NCJ Number
123654
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services & Rehabilitation Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (1990) Pages: 163-178
Date Published
1990
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This paper considers the psychopathology and psychodynamics of sex murderers and potential sex murderers, with an emphasis on treatment in the outpatient setting.
Abstract
Like most psychiatric conditions, murder is not a unitary concept. There are different clinical pictures, etiologies, courses, and prognoses. Most cases of sex murder belong to the impulsive, catathymic, and compulsive groups, with the latter two being dominant. Acts of gynocide, the killing of women, committed by the other two groups have a strong circumstantial element and are characterized by their randomness. Repetition of the same crime is rare in the impulsive and catathymic categories and depends to a great extent on external stimuli. In the compulsive group, however, repetition of a murder is common. Three case studies demonstrate treatment failure due to the therapist's inability to recognize important symptoms, successful treatment of a catathymic sex murderer once released from custody, and successful treatment of a potential compulsive sex murderer. The issue of control is crucial to maintaining sex murderers in outpatient therapy. However, the most experienced therapists usually do not treat such offenders, largely because of the real liability risk. 25 references. (Author abstract modified)