Scroll painting depicting domestic violence, likely from Calcutta, India, 1875-1890. The work reflects a shift by Kalighat artists from religious to social commentary in colonial-era society.
When people murder in the midst of psychosis, grief is lasting and real
STUDY: Shaw O et al, Death Studies 2026
STUDY TYPE: Qualitative study (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis)
FUNDING: Independent
Background
“Disenfranchised grief” describes loss that society won’t let someone mourn openly. Men who kill a family member occupy an unusual dual role, perpetrator and bereaved. This UK study asked six men, hospitalized with schizophrenia, how they experience that grief using a semi-structured interview.
Results
All called the aftermath “devastating.” Most wanted to “make good,” through remorse or peer support.
They described an identity split between their real self and the “insane” self that is blamed for the killing. This divide helped some make sense of things but left most feeling branded as a “schizophrenic killer.”
Grief for the victim was intense but largely unacknowledged by society and the medical team, possibly out of fear for excusing the act. Hospitalization made it hard to maintain a bond with the person they’d killed, though several found workarounds: prayer, dreams, or a grave visit when allowed.
Practice Implications
- These situations challenge compassion, calling on us to ask about grief, shame, and fractured identity.
—Chris Aiken, MD
Director, Psych Partners
Editor in Chief, Carlat Psychiatry Report
