@article{ref1,
title="Homicide-suicide and the role of mental disorder: a national consecutive case series",
journal="Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology",
year="2016",
author="Flynn, Sandra and Gask, Linda and Appleby, Louis and Shaw, Jenny",
volume="51",
number="6",
pages="877-884",
abstract="PURPOSE: There is a lack of robust empirical research examining mental disorder and homicide-suicide. Primary care medical records are seldom used in homicide-suicide research. The aims of this study were to describe the characteristics of offenders and victims; determine the prevalence of mental disorder and contact with mental health services and examine adverse events prior to the offence. <br><br>METHODS: This was a mixed-methods study based on a consecutive case series of offences in England and Wales occurring between 2006 and 2008. 60 homicide-suicides were recorded. Data sources included coroner's records, police files, General Practice (GP) and specialist mental health records, and newspaper articles. <br><br>RESULTS: The results show that most victims were spouse/partners and/or children. Most perpetrators were male (88 %) and most victims were female (77 %). The incidents were commonly preceded by relationship breakdown and separation. 62 % had mental health problems. A quarter visited a GP for emotional distress within a month of the incident. Few had been in recent contact with mental health services before the incident (12 %). Self-harm (26 %) and domestic violence (39 %) were common. <br><br>CONCLUSION: In conclusion, GPs cannot be expected to prevent homicide-suicide directly, but they can reduce risk generally, via the treatment of depression and recognising the risks associated with domestic violence.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0933-7954",
doi="10.1007/s00127-016-1209-4",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1209-4"
}