Links Between Psychopathy, Type of Violence, and Severe Mental Disorder among Female Offenders of Lethal Violence in Sweden

Knowledge about females who commit lethal violence is limited compared to what we know about their male counterparts. The overall aim of this study was to investigate links between psychopathy, type of violence, and severe mental disorder (SMD), among Swedish female offenders of lethal violence. All records for female offenders (N = 175) who underwent a court-ordered forensic psychiatric investigation in Sweden charged with lethal/attempted lethal violence, between 2000 and 2014, were included. Structured assessments were done based on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) concerning psychopathy, and the Violent Incident Coding Sheet (VICS) concerning instrumental/reactive aspects of the crime. Overall, the female offenders were characterized by relatively low levels of psychopathy and acted based on reactive rather than instrumental motives. Modest associations appeared between psychopathy and instrumental, rather than reactive, features of the crime. However, the SMD group (n = 84) scored lower on PCL-R total and interpersonal facet 1, somewhat higher on VICS arousal and planning (<24 h vs. no planning), while showing inconsistent but generally lower scoring on provocation. PCL-R facet 1, and the secondary VICS classifications appeared as covariates associated with an SMD. These results contribute to our understanding of the driving mechanisms and complexity behind female lethal violence, where the SMD group showed a somewhat unexpected multifaceted pattern, including reactive and instrumental VICS aspects. This has especially consequences for the assessment and handling of female offenders of lethal violence within forensic psychiatry and correctional services, also calling for further research focusing on this population.