Typologies of feminicide perpetrators with a mental disorder in Spain

Therapeutic treatments in male batterers have limited efficacy. One of the actions proposed to improve the intervention of professionals in this scope of action is adapting them to the traits of each male batterer. A study of 237 sentences for feminicide in Spain committed by males with mental disorders at the time of the crime has been carried out, being the basis to find out the different types of feminicides with mental illness. The relation between mental disorder and degree of emotional instability and between suicidal behaviour and breakup of a relationship are also studied. The results, obtained through bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques, reveal the existence of four typologies of feminicide perpetrators. A positive association between mental disorder and degree of emotional instability and between a suicidal behaviour and the abandonment of his partner have also been found. Theoretical and practical implications are described.