The threat to kill.

THE PURPOSE AND PLAN OF THIS THESIS It is considered that the neglected problem of homicidal threats is a subject not only of psychological interest but also of practical importance to the psychiatrist. The purpose of this thesis is to: 1. Study the relationship between the homicidal threat and homicide. One hundred persons who made homicidal threats have been followed up after an interval of five to six years. 2. Assess some potential predictors of homicide. The incidence of potential predictors of homicide has been examined in three groups - hospital patients who have made threats to kill, convicted homicide offenders, and a control group of hospital patients who have no history of homicidal behavior. 3. Test the hypothesis that the incidence of parental brutality, parental seduction and childhood firesetting, cruelty to animals and enuresis is significantly higher in persons who have committed criminal homicide than in persons who have made homicidal threats. 4. Provide guidance on the emergency assessment of homicidal Potentiality. 5. Consider briefly those who make homicidal threats and their victims. One·hundred consecutive “threat-to-kill” admissions to a hospital, as well as others who have made threats, have been examined. Attention will be given to the role of the victim in provoking threats. 6. Consider briefly medico-legal aspects of homicidal threats, treatment of those who threaten, prevention of homicide and suggestions for future research. [Chapter 1