SEXUAL HOMICIDES: DYNAMICS ASSOCIATED WITH CRIME AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE AGGRESSOR

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual homicide is defined as lethal and intentional violence associated with sexual acts. Considered crimes of low incidence, they are usually committed by a single male aggressor against women. Objective: To review the literature on psychopathological aspects of sexual homicide and dynamics involved in crime. Method: Scoping review. To query the MEDLINE, LILACS, MENDELEY and SciELO  databases, the combination of MeSH ("Homicide" [Mesh]) AND "Sex Offenses" [Mesh]  was adopted, with no limitation of period or language. Results: Studies indicate that sexual homicides have significant prevalences of psychiatric and personality disorders, paraphilias, and traumatic experiences in childhood. In general, they do not practice post-mortem sexual acts  and use strangulation for the lethal outcome. Conclusion: Sexual homicides are a heterogeneous group of individuals with a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and paraphilias, especially sexual sadism disorder and pedophilic disorder. Sexual homicides of children have characteristics that differentiate them from sexual homicides of adults.