Neurobiology of Female Homicide Perpetrators

Abstract

Neurobiology of female homicide perpetrators is not well understood. Data from private interviews and examinations of females were re-analyzed comparing those who committed homicide ( n = 9); other violent crimes, no known homicide ( n = 51); nonviolent crimes, no known violent convictions ( n = 49); and noncriminals ( n = 12). Homicide perpetrators suffered the most childhood sexual abuse (CSA); most recent abuse; had the most neurological histories, mainly traumatic brain injuries (TBIs); most health care access for abuse-related injuries; lowest AM and PM salivary cortisol; and greatest proportion who committed crime under the influence of alcohol. Only CSA, years since last abuse, TBI, neurological histories, and health care access for abuse-related injuries were significant. Those who committed homicide under the influence of alcohol suffered the most recent abuse and had the lowest AM cortisol and flattest diurnal cortisol slope (DCS) compared with others; though the n precludes determining significance. Amount of time since last abuse, AM cortisol and DCS progressively decreased as crime severity increased; other variables progressively increased as crime severity increased. These preliminary findings suggest that low AM cortisol, flat DCS, greater CSA frequency and severity, recent abuse, TBIs, and health care access for abuse-related injuries could be risk factors for females committing homicide. Further study is needed due to the small n of homicide perpetrators. Abuse victims may be at greater risk for alcohol use and cortisol dysregulation associated with perpetrating violence, especially homicide. Frontal lobe damage from TBIs may decrease ability to control behaviors associated with emotions from the limbic system. Health care providers released these women when their abuse-related injuries were not life-threatening; yet, they were life-threatening for victims of their subsequent homicides. Females accessing health care for abuse-related injuries present a critical opportunity for violent crime prevention interventions.

Comparing Homicidal Ideations with Homicides/Assaults Victimization among Various Racial/Ethnic Groups in the United States

“…complications and neurocognitive deficits have been linked to youth violence, 19 so has traumatic stress due to experiences such as neglect, abuse, family conflict, poverty and bullying. 18,[20][21][22][23] Chronic stress related to these types of experiences have been associated with changes in the development and functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in ways that compromise adaptive responses to stress. 23 Also consistent with previous studies, we found that homicidal ideation and homicide/assault victimizations were most common among patients in the lowest zipcode income quartile, regardless of race or ethnicity.…”

“…These data elements were not available in the HCUP NIS but are likely to influence the occurrence of homicidal ideation or victimization by homicide or assault. 18,20,22,27,28 In addition, in this study we examined the occurrence of homicide and assault together because of the way ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes are designed. However, racial disparity of aggravated assault and other socio-demographic characteristics may not resemble that of murder.…”

Post-Traumatic Bio-Behavioral Rehabilitation of Adult Female Victims

“…Salivary Cortisol was evaluated similar to previous studies for comparison, 9,10,17 immediately upon awakening (AM) before they ate, drank, smoked or exercised, and again before dinner (PM). Participants were asked not to eat, drink anything other than water, smoke or exercise between their noon meal and the PM saliva collection.…”

“…The stress hormone cortisol can be dysregulated later in life among victims of abuse. 17 Cortisol is a primary product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a key component of the stress response. Normally, a resting basal cortisol diurnal pattern shows a peak in the morning and then a gradual decrease throughout the day, creating a steep diurnal cortisol slope between morning (AM) and evening (PM).…”

“…18 HPA axis dysregulation, including low AM cortisol and flatter slope, have been reported in both female victims 19,20 and perpetrators of violence. 9,10,17 Women with greater intimate partner violence victimization had a flatter cortisol slope compared to women with less of victimization. 21 Criminals with greater abuse histories than controls have low diurnal cortisol.…”