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CHILDREN WHO KILL: A CASE STUDY OF MATRICIDE
Author(s) -
Erik Mouridsen Svend,
Tolstrup Kai
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1988.tb00741.x
Subject(s) - homicide , psychogenic disease , psychology , poison control , psychiatry , injury prevention , suicide prevention , human factors and ergonomics , pediatrics , medical emergency , medicine
Only a small number of children who murder have been reported in the literature. Matricide in particular is infrequently mentioned. The examination and treatment of a 9‐yr‐old boy who intentionally killed his mother is presented. No severe family conflicts or other psychogenic factors which could explain the action were found. Apart from some indications of possible epilepsy in the EEG (not confirmed clinically) no somatic pathology was verified. During one year's stay in the child psychiatric department after the homicide the boy was psychotic, probably suffering from a schizophrenic disorder which is presumed to have developed in the years preceding the matricide.