DYADIC DEATH

Q) Write a note on Dyadic death?

A) (I) Definition –
1) Dyadic death (“pairs of death”) is homicide followed by suicide or a double suicide pact (e.g. a pair of lovers committing suicide together,
because they were not allowed to marry). Other reasons may be infidelity, jealousy, poverty, property disputes or unemployment)
2) Dyadic death (murder-suicide, homicide-suicide) refers to a violent event where a homicide is committed followed by the perpetrator’s
suicide almost immediately or soon after the homicide.

(II) Epidemiology:-
1) Frequency – Dyadic deaths are relatively rare. Vary from region to region
2) Perpetrator features
(i) Sex - This phenomenon is more common in males as males are the principal perpetrators. But sometimes females are perpetrators.
(ii) Age – Usually males of extreme age group (18-60 years) are perpetrators.
3) Victim features - The principal victims are female sexual partners or consanguineous relatives, usually young children as wife and children
are dependent on male for there sustenance.
4) Socio-economical factors – Incidents of dyadic death are more common in low socio economic status, less educated and illiterate
families, unemployed people.
5) Relation between victim & perpetrator: most dyadic deaths are result of intra-family violence. Murder – suicide tends to involve people
who know each other. Family relationship or close intimate bond between victim/s and assailants is a characteristic feature in all murder –
suicide deaths. Closer the relationship between offender and victim, greater the likelihood that the perpetrator will commit suicide.
6) Place of occurrence – dyadic deaths mostly occurs at home.

(III) Common reasons – Homicide-suicide episodes are complex phenomenon and multidimensional events associated with additive or
multiplicative effects of many circumstances including psychopathological, psychosocial, economical, cultural or environmental stressors.
1) Domestic quarrel – unable to bear burden of life involving psychological stress due to repeated domestic quarrels
2) Breakdown of relationship or Marital discord or rejected proposal – feeling of rejection, sexual jealousy, infidelity
3) Mental illness – paranoid, depressed offender, postpartum psychosis (mother kills child and commits suicide)
4) Physical illness – despairing elderly man with ailing spouse
5) Financial crisis – uncertain future and security of children mainly daughters

(IV) According to perpetrator and victim –

S.No Perpetrator Victim Commonest reason

1 Mother Children Domestic quarrel, financial burden, widow, (The action of killing the children is an extension of
suicide and that the perpetrator is acting altruistically to save children from the danger of the
world)
2 Husband Wife Infidelity (real or delusional), husband may suffer from morbid jealousy
3 Parents children Familial murder-suicide can occur due to domestic quarrel, financial burden, Marital discord.
4 Male lover Girl Rejected proposal, terminated love affair
(V) Precipitating factors –
1) Chronic mental or physical illness
2) Loss of employment
3) Death of spouse
4) Separation from spouse due to marital discord or infidelity
5) Alcohol intoxication
6) Anger and frustration out of sexual jealousy
7) Heated argument or fight with spouse

(VI) Methods of dyadic deaths – method of suicide tell about the state of mind of perpetrator. Violent methods like stabbing, strangulation
tells about the anger, rage or fury of mental status of perpetrator.
1) Poisoning – mainly in familial murder –suicide where mother poisons children and then herself
2) Violent methods like stabbing, strangulation – usually by male who kills wife and children by stabbing or slitting throats
3) Drowning – usually mother drowns along with small child
4) Hanging – as a method of death in suicide pact

(VII) Reason for suicide by perpetrator after homicide –

1) Remorseful feeling of killing loved one
2) Frustration and depression

(VIII) Importance –
1) Dyadic deaths are relatively infrequent events but are of great concern because they often result in the death of family members, young
children, and cause additional morbidity, family disruption and childhood psychological trauma
2) For achieving health of society, there should be social, psychological and psychiatric investigations to reduce or prevent the occurrence of
such incidences.