Parricide is murder of parents by their children. This kind of murder is rare, approximately 2 % of all homicides. It is associated with severe mental disorders which makes this phenomena interesting for psychiatric and forensic exploration.

The aim of the study was to describe sociodemographic and psychopathological characteristics of committers and victims and to investigate the act itself.

All homicide autopsy records from1991-2005, performed on Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical School, University of Belgrade, were examined (948 cases). Only cases of parricide (33) were included in further analyses. Study was retrospective and descriptive statistic was used.

In the region of Belgrade, rate of parricide in all homicides was 3.5% (0-9 cases per year). In average, parricide committers were: 31.2±11.9 years old, 87.8% male, 60.6% with psychiatric symptoms (most common schizophrenia, alcohol dependence, personality disorder etc), while victims were: 63.7±11.9 years old, 54.5% male, 21.2% with diagnosis of mental illness. Most used tools were: 48.5% edgeless object, 30.3% weapon, 15.2% knife. Although clear motives were difficult to obtain, we recorded possible motives: in 42.4% parental abuse, 30.3% child abuse; 9.1% benefit and 18.2% unknown.

Subjects with severe mental illness are more likely to be parricide committers. Specific features of their psychopathology, differences in the course of the illness, compliance and many other risk factors should be explored further on in order to recognize and prevent fatal outcome.