Annabell Dötsch
Filicide is a rare but complex phenomenon across all countries and cultures and refers to the killing of a child over one year of age by their parents. Although it presents a profoundly traumatic event, the psychological distress of professionals when dealing with such cases as well as their employed coping strategies have been rarely examined in this specific context. This mixed method thesis aims to assess the psychological distress of professional when dealing with filicide in the context of domestic violence. Particular attention is given to police officers and the extent to which the psychological distress differs between police officers and other professionals. In addition, this thesis aims to explore the coping strategies used by police officers to maintain their wellbeing.