Mark T. Palermo, psichiatra, neurologo e criminologo, ha studiato il fenomeno del figlicidio con particolare riguardo al caso di figli con autismo.

Nell’articolo

Preventing Filicide in Families With Autistic Children

Mark T. Palermo

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 47(1), 2003 47-57

suddivide i fattori predisponenti al figlicidio come segue

Based on factors thought to motivate the murder, filicides have been classified as

(a) altruistic, a “murder commited out of love”(56%);

(b) psychotic, when no apparent motive is present (24%);

(c) unwanted child, which is self-explanatory (11%);

(d) “accidental,” when there was no intent to kill (7%);

(e) spousal revenge, when the homicide is committed with the intent to make the spouse suffer (2%)

Nel caso di figli disabili ritiene che il figlicidio altruistico si intrecci pericolosamente con l’idea di una uccisione misericordiosa

In cases that involve disabled persons, the concept of altruistic filicide may dangerously overlap the idea of mercy killing

Tra i fattori stressanti l’autore menziona le difficoltá nell’attaccamento genitoriale e l’impossibilitá di dare un significato a comportamenti che non hanno una causa apparente

the difficulties in bonding with autistic children that are intrinsic to the disorder, the secondary problems with disturbed attachment, and the impossibility for parents to give a meaning to something that in most cases, from the outside and from clinical exam and ancillary investigations, has no apparent physical cause further compounds a stressful situation.

Se si migliora l’autoefficacia e la capacitá di comunicare coi figli diminuiscono nei genitori i livelli di stress e migliora l’autostima

variables such as self-efficacy in parents have been shown to mediate the effect on stress levels of the maladaptive and problematic behaviors commonly found in autistic patients

it is clearly demonstrated that enabling parents to communicate through alternative languages, such as the American Sign Language or the equivalent in other countries, may significantly decrease the level of stress and improve parental self-esteem

Come logica conseguenza l’autore consiglia per la prevenzione una formazione esaustiva e un training dei genitori in modo che essi possano avere il controllo della demoralizzante situazione, che possano prevenire i problemi e approcciare i loro figli nel modo piú efficace possibile.

The stigma and anxiety associated with the diagnosis of autistic disorder may be diminished through exhaustive illness education

This enables parents who are often young and lack knowledge about parenting in general to gain or regain control over a demoralizing situation, allowing them to anticipate problems that may develop and to approach their children in the most effective way possible.

Come conclusione finale l’autore ricorda ai medici che, se il primo imperativo morale del medico é “Primo, non nuocere”, il secondo dovrebbe essere “Non abbandonare”

When working with families, although it is a challenge (Barr, 1999; Korsch, 1995), one must not forget that along with “first, do no harm,” second should be “do not abandon.”