Patricide, matricide: A comparative study among Tunisian patients with psychotic disorders

Parricide is defined as the homicide of a father or mother by a biological or adopted child. In adults, it is generally associated to a psychotic condition. Scientific research on the subject, have been mainly interested in matricide, patricide or double parricide. Studies comparing authors of patricide to those of matricide are rare. Objectives To compare socio-demographic and clinical profiles of patricide and matricide patients. To compare modus operandi in matricide and patricide patients. Methods A retrospective, descriptive and comparative study was conducted, based on medical charts’ consult. Were included patients suffering from psychotic disorders (DSM-IV), hospitalized in the forensic psychiatry department of Razi hospital between 1995 and 2015, after not being held for insanity according to article 38 of Tunisian Criminal Code. Only patients who committed patricide or matricide were included. Results Our sample included 26 patients (13 patricides; 13 matricides). There was non-significant differences between two groups concerning: instructional level ( P  = 0.277), professional status ( P  = 0.387) and marital status ( P  = 0.790). Committers of patricide and matricide did not differ in terms of psychiatric diagnosis ( P  = 0.242) and substance abuse ( P  = 0.550). A significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of schizophrenia subtypes, patricide patients suffered from a disorganized schizophrenia whereas matricide patients suffered from paranoid subtype ( P  = 0.05). Patricide was more frequently associated to a conflictual relationship between son and father ( P  = 0.05). We did not record a significant difference in the crime weapon or its motivations. Conclusion Our results helps draw a profile for parricide patients in order to help identify the ones at risk.