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Caroppo E, Sapienza M, Mazza M, Sannella A, Cecchi R, Marano G, Kondo T, Calabrese C, De Lellis P. Unveiling the Dark Nexus: A systematic review on the interplay of mental health, substance abuse, and socio-cultural factors in femicide. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2024; 67:102334. [PMID: 37838582 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
A shared definition of femicide would help to distinguish it from the murder of a woman and understand its root causes favoring prevention. We conducted a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to assess how (and if) femicide cases were related to mental disorders. Articles papers that explicitly define or discuss femicides or articles that, albeit not expressly mention femicides, thoroughly compare generic homicides and homicides with female victims. We analyse 3546 articles were retrieved from the databases, and 75 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the SLR. Many forms of femicide emerge worldwide as people's values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours evolve (intimate partner femicide, femicide-suicide, religious femicide, honour, revolt femicide) and state of vulnerability. A tiny percentage of femicides occur at the hands of subjects with diagnosed mental disorders, and controversies exist regarding the possible link between femicide and the use of drugs and/or alcohol and other factors. The complex problem of violence against women must be addressed with a transdisciplinary approach and targeted interventions for both the victims and the perpetrators. The present SLR shows that it is not possible to link femicides to mental disorders and that socio and cultural factors appear to be more relevant. Further quantitative research is warranted to disentangle the root causes of this heinous phenomenon plaguing our times. Our studies show that using the proposed definition of feminicide would help to delimit and adequately recognise violence in courtrooms, promote the culture of equality, and identify adequate policy strategies for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Caroppo
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Authority, Roma 2, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Sapienza
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Marianna Mazza
- Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Rossana Cecchi
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Marano
- Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Toshikazu Kondo
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Carmela Calabrese
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Pietro De Lellis
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Crespo KC, Rios AMFM, Martini M, Barcellos C, De Borba Telles LE, Magalhães PVS. Characteristics of suicides of young people in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from 2010 to 2016. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2021; 17:596-601. [PMID: 34739713 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-021-00403-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe demographic, toxicological, criminal, and medicolegal characteristics of suicides of young people aged up to 24 years examined by the Porto Alegre Medicolegal Office, from 2010 to 2016. This cross-sectional study collected data from the Porto Alegre Medicolegal Office and the Rio Grande do Sul State Police Department. The information was obtained from death certificates, toxicological analyses and police reports. Rates were calculated according to sex and age range (under 15 years old, 15 to 19 years old, and 20 to 24 years old) for comparing local with national data. There were 143 people who died by suicide in the period, 120 males and 23 females. Hanging was the most frequently used method, but in the range of 10 to 14 years old, firearm use was the predominant method. Fifty percent of male victims and 30% of female victims had some criminal history. Suicide rates in the study groups generally followed national trends. The relative frequency of suicide by firearm in this study diverged from international findings, as it was relatively more frequent in children under 15 years old and less frequent in older ranges. If confirmed, the finding draws attention to access to firearms in this age range. In older age ranges, adolescents and young adults were frequently involved in the criminal system. This finding may be useful for planning interventions involving both mental health education and screening for problems that may be associated with criminal involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleber Cardoso Crespo
- Clinical Research Center, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Angelita Maria Ferreira Machado Rios
- Clinical Research Center, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.,Departamento Médico Legal de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Murilo Martini
- Clinical Research Center, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Camila Barcellos
- Clinical Research Center, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Lisieux Elaine De Borba Telles
- Clinical Research Center, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Pedro V S Magalhães
- Clinical Research Center, Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
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