Psychiatria pre prax 3/2014
Infanticide in psychiatry: theoretical concepts, clinical practice
Infanticide (intentional killing of infant under the age of one year) is a serious social, ethical, but also medical problem. Motives and circumstances of infanticide can be diverse, psychiatric disorder often plays the role. Postpartum period as a critical time episode may lead to decompensation of mental state due to several factors. This article is focused on the theoretical issues of filicide (intentional killing of the child by parent), infanticide in terms of mental disorders of women is analyzed in more detail. Three brief case reports from the Department of Psychiatry are also offered.
Keywords: infanticide, psychiatric disorders, postpartum episode, risk factros, prevention, filicide, neonaticide.
