Mental disorder and clinical care in people convicted of homicide: national clinical survey

Abstract

Objectives To estimate the rate of mental disorder in those convicted of homicide and to examine the social and clinical characteristics of those with a history of contact with psychiatric services. Design National clinical survey. Setting England and Wales. Subjects Eighteen month sample of people convicted of homicide. Main outcome measures Offence related and clinical information collected from psychiatric court reports on people convicted of homicide. Detailed clinical data collected on those with a history of contact with psychiatric services.

Relação entre homicídio e transtornos mentais

“…Some authors have found that psychotic individuals are more likely to murder family members or close acquaintances, 16 whereas the murder of strangers are more frequently perpetrated by abusers of alcohol or drugs. 17 Simpson et al found that, in 74% of abnormal homicides, the victims were family members or partners of the perpetrators, compared with 9% in normal homicides.…”

“…16 This group accounted for 70% of the convictions for murder during the study period. The authors found that 6% of these murders were committed by individuals with schizophrenia, and 44% were committed by individuals with a history of some type of mental disorder, although other diagnoses were not specified.…”

“…29 The psychiatric data analyzed were provided by the courts, prison administrations and other agencies. In those two countries, 1594 murder convictions were reported between 1996 and 1999.…”

Bases psicopatológicas do crime violento: estudo caso-controle retrospectivo de pacientes delirantes criminosos e não-criminosos

“…No presente estudo, a hipótese de alguns autores que consideram possível efeito do álcool nos crimes violentos por pacientes psicóticos (e pela atividade delirante) não foi confirmada 11,15 . Certamente, o presente estudo tende a sugerir associação entre a psicopatologia do delírio e o ato violento, independentemente do uso do álcool ou da droga.…”

“…Estudos realizados em diferentes países (Estados Unidos, Inglaterra, Austrália e República Checa) com prisioneiros que tinham cometido crimes violentos indicaram prevalência mais elevada da esquizofrenia neste grupo (prisioneiros) em comparação com a população geral, não obstante as limitações das generalizações por causa dos vieses de tais estudos [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] . Outros estudos, entretanto, indicaram associação negativa entre psicose e violência.…”