Abstract Purpose The study aimed to develop an empirically driven checklist guiding clinicians in the decision-making process that would enable them to determine the functional role of the killing in a newly proposed classification of sexual homicides. Methods Classical Test Theory, Exploratory Factor Analyses and Two-parameter item response theory were conducted on a sample of 361 male sexual killers assigned as either belonging to the direct or indirect group. Results The results revealed that an eight-item checklist was the best empirical solution. The items included: sexual sadism; followed by the use of sexually related disinhibitors; stalking behaviours; the use of restraints; the presence post-mortem sexual activity; the presence of other sexual activities; an unusual interest following the murder; and the presence of biting were indicative of a direct sexual homicide. Conclusions Using the direct/indirect typology automatically directs clinicians to consider how, and at what point in the timeline, the sexual element and the act of killing were related. This, allows to address any arising inconsistencies as well as minimise the risk of either assuming sexual motives in the killing in the indirect cases or not addressing management of sexual urges in the context of extreme violence for the direct cases.

中文翻译：

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解开性杀人案：关于性动机杀人的新分类的提案

摘要 目的本研究旨在开发一个经验驱动的清单，在决策过程中指导临床医生，使他们能够确定杀戮在新提出的性凶杀分类中的功能作用。方法 经典测试理论、探索性因素分析和双参数项目反应理论对 361 名男性性杀手的样本进行了研究，这些男性性杀手被指定为直接或间接组。结果 结果表明，八项清单是最好的经验解决方案。这些项目包括：性虐待；其次是使用与性相关的抑制剂；跟踪行为；约束的使用；死后性活动的存在；其他性活动的存在；谋杀后的异常兴趣；和咬人的存在表明直接性杀人。结论 使用直接/间接类型学会自动引导临床医生考虑在时间线中的哪个点，性元素和杀戮行为是如何相关的。这可以解决任何出现的不一致问题，并最大限度地降低在间接案件中的杀人动机或在直接案件的极端暴力背景下不处理性冲动管理的风险。