HOMICIDE-SUICIDE ATTEMPTS BY DEPRESSED IN PATIENTS - FORENSIC AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS IN 3 CLINICAL CASES

Despite of the frequency of depressive disorders among the population, forensic aspects of depression are rare and usually focussed on suici dal behaviour, especially the so-called homicide-suicide (homicide fol lowed by suicide). Today therapeutic strategies are seen in the first stage of dealing with depressed homicide-suicide attempters. Apart fro m the question of guilt with regard to the homicidal act, the question of recurrence of depression and the danger of a possibly repeated hom icidal-suicidal behaviour are discussed in the light of three clinical cases.