%0 Case Reports
%T Maternal filicide: A case series from a medico-legal psychiatry unit in India.
%A Gowda GS
%A Kumar CN
%A Mishra S
%A Malathesh BC
%A Komal S
%A Math SB
%A Chandra PS
%J Asian J Psychiatr
%V 36
%N 0
%D Aug 2018
%M 29966885
%F 13.89
%R 10.1016/j.ajp.2018.06.004
%X Maternal filicide has occurred throughout history and carries along with it, a host of paradoxical and complex clinical, legal and social dimensions. We present findings from a case series of four women inpatients, who were undergoing trials for filicide. All women reported severe marital discord and poor social support. Three had severe depressive episodes before and during the time of the alleged crime. The motive for the alleged act was 'altruistic' in three of them. Early identification of psychiatric illness and risk assessment may help in early intervention and protect the mother and child.