Repeated maternal filicide: Importance of relationship between personality disorders and malingering in criminal responsibility evaluation-a case report from forensic psychiatric perspective in Türkiye

Maternal filicide is the homicide of a child by the mother, it is defined as maternal filicide that multifaceted phenomenon and is often the subject of forensic psychiatric evaluation. A woman 32 years old is on trial for the homicide of her 3 years and 8 months old daughter by throwing her off the balcony. Investigation of her judicial file; 3 years and 5 months old son had also died in 3 years ago, falling from the 6th floor balcony and she had also been investigated in this regard. In her medical history, there is outpatient follow-ups and drug prescriptions with the diagnosis of 'behavioral disorders’. Psychiatric examination of the person in our department, she was in a simulation effort and was decided in presence of personality disorder rather than mental illness and reported as having full criminal responsibility. It should be kept in mind that malingering may occur as a component of personality disorders and the person should be taken under observation and an opinion should be given with attitudes and behaviours during hospitalisation and repeated examinations.