Maternal Filicide

Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management: Case-Study of Filicide in an Italian Woman

“…Structured interviews with offenders can be an important source of information. Considering the primary role of social stressors influencing the filicide phenomenon [ 11 ], structured interviews help guide professionals through the contextualisation of the event.…”

“…As several authors argue [ 11 , 66 ], the hypothesis that Anna was affected peripartum by major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms is well-suited to the situational picture presented. Taking this into account, the psychosocial rehabilitation programme of the offender deserves to be reviewed.…”

“…Most of these women do not experience adequate support systems. The co-occurrence of these factors among young mothers can lead to unpreparedness for the increasing emotional, material, and financial care required by a newborn child [ 11 ].…”

“…In one study [ 18 ], it was found that 72% of the women who had committed filicide had no specific diagnosis of a mental disorder before the crime. Only four out of 96 women presented with a diagnosis of post-partum depression [ 11 ]. Aggressive thoughts and—in some cases—even homicidal ideation towards their children are also found among women in the general population [ 19 ].…”

“…Recidivism risk assessment is fundamental in cases of maternal filicide, especially when the mother has other children. Structured interviews can be an important source of data both to formulate a diagnosis of mental pathology and to contextualise the event as much as possible [ 11 ]. In Anglo-Saxon countries, the use of scientific tools is customary in many areas—for example, during the eligibility assessment for parole and probation, in psychiatric and forensic hospitals, prisons, courts, and to manage treatment programmes.…”