[Violent recidivism risk factor in filicidal women]

A) To describe filicidal women who are detained in prison in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in terms of their risk of violent recidivism. B) To evaluate institutional violent recidivism and the predictive efficiency of baseline assessment instruments.

47 filicidal women, biological and non biological mothers, were assessed whilst imprisoned between May-August 2005. Multiple information sources were used in the assessment, including the PCL- R and HCR-20 as well as an ad-hoc questionnaire. The institutional follow-up took place up to the point of discharge, transfer or closure of the study period (31-03-2006), with the average being 237 days.

A high proportion of this population presents with severe mental health problems (19,5%) and have a history of substance misuse (8,5%). The total PCL-R median was 12,7. Factor 1 had a median of 6,2 and Factor 2, 4,9. The median of the H scale of the HCR 20 was 6,8 and for the C scale 3,7. The 11 % of the sample engaged in at least one maladaptive behaviour during the follow up period. The prognostic efficiency of the scales used tended to be better than chance but did not reach any statistical significance. The sample was characterized for having low risk of maladaptive behaviours whilst imprisoned.

Filicidal women who are institutionalised present with low risk of violent or maladaptive behaviours. Their clinical and criminological profile suggests that they do not require high security measures during their rehabilitation.