Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Matricide: the schizophrenic crime?

S A Clark1

  • 1Murray Royal Hospital, Perth.

Medicine, Science, and the Law
|October 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Matricide is not exclusively the "schizophrenic crime." While schizophrenia is present, other mental disorders are also common in offenders convicted of killing their mothers. Mandatory forensic psychiatric assessment is recommended.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Short communication: Accuracy of whole-genome sequence imputation in Angus cattle using within-breed and multi breed reference populations.

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience·2024
Same author

Exploring genetic variation in potential indicators of resilience in sheep using fibre diameter measured along the wool staple.

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience·2024
Same author

Chromothripsis orchestrates leukemic transformation in blast phase MPN through targetable amplification of <i>DYRK1A</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2023
Same author

Informing the use of a supplementary immunisation programme for the management of a community cluster of invasive meningococcal disease, Yorkshire, 2022.

Public health·2023
Same author

Comparison of two live-animal ultrasound systems for genetic evaluation of carcass traits in Angus cattle.

Translational animal science·2021
Same author

Estimated strain coverage of serogroup B meningococcal vaccines: A retrospective study for disease and carrier strains in Greece (2010-2017).

Vaccine·2021
Same journal

The right to die: A comparative analysis of end-of-life issues in Scandinavian legal systems.

Medicine, science, and the law·2026
Same journal

Diagnosing autism in adult forensic settings.

Medicine, science, and the law·2026
Same journal

Background asbestos fiber levels in autopsy lungs: Implications for forensic disease attribution in the post-ban era.

Medicine, science, and the law·2026
Same journal

Changing patterns in volatile substance abuse fatalities: A retrospective case series from Northern Australia.

Medicine, science, and the law·2026
Same journal

Integrity, objectivity, and the role of healthcare expert witnesses in the judicial system: An analysis of practice, Indonesian law, and a Foucauldian perspective.

Medicine, science, and the law·2026
Same journal

Post-mortem computed tomography findings of spinal column injuries in comparison to autopsy: A systematic review.

Medicine, science, and the law·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Criminology
  • Psychopathology

Background:

  • The concept of matricide as exclusively linked to schizophrenia has persisted since 1965.
  • Understanding the psychopathology of individuals who commit matricide is crucial for legal and psychiatric contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of schizophrenia and other mental disorders among individuals convicted of matricide in Scotland.
  • To challenge the notion of matricide as solely 'the schizophrenic crime'.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective national study of individuals charged with matricide or culpable homicide of their biological mother in Scotland (1957-1987).
  • Examination of High Court indictment files for offender identification and follow-up on diagnosis and disposal.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Twenty-six individuals were convicted of matricide or culpable homicide.
  • Schizophrenia was diagnosed in 24% of cases, with other diagnoses including personality disorder (20%), alcohol dependence (16%), and depressive illness (12%).
  • Fifty percent of convicted individuals were not known to the State Hospital, Carstairs.

Conclusions:

  • While schizophrenia is over-represented, matricide is not exclusively a "schizophrenic crime."
  • A significant prevalence of various mental disorders exists among matricide offenders.
  • Mandatory pre-trial assessment by a Forensic Psychiatrist is recommended due to the high incidence of mental disorder.