Prevalence of mental disorders among sexual offenders and non-sexual offenders

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of mental disorders in convicted sex offenders admitted to the Psychiatric Custody and Treatment Hospital (Forensic Psychiatric Facility). METHOD: 89 patient records of males admitted from March 2005 to August 2006 were analyzed. The analysis included evaluation of two study groups: Group I comprised subjects who had committed sex offenses (sexual offenders) while Group II contained subjects convicted for other crimes (non-sexual offenders). Variables studied were: age bracket, years of schooling, marital status, skin color, place of birth, previous psychiatric admissions and psychiatric diagnosis. RESULTS: Mental retardation and personality disorders were the mainly diagnoses in Group I (sexual offenders) (61,76% and 29,41% respectively). In the other hand, schizophrenic subjects predominated in Group II (non-sexual offenders) (82,93%). CONCLUSION: Different from international data, we have found low prevalence of personality disorders among Brazilian forensic population and we believe that it's due to a distinguishing characteristic of the Brazilian legal system, which does not consider personality disorder a mental disease, thus, not prompting these patients to civil commitment.

Institucionalização prolongada, transtornos mentais e violência: uma revisão científica sobre o tema

“…There are robust scientific studies in place, including systematic reviews and meta-analysis, proving that mental health disorders are not the most important factor in assessing the risk of violence, or even an isolated factor leading to it (Abdalla-Filho;Engelhardtb, 2003;Achá et al, 2011;Bonta;Law;Hanson, 1998;Ghoreishi et al, 2015;Mecler, 1996;Menezes, 2001;Oliveira et al, 2017;Valença;Moraes, 2006;Valença;Nardi, 2013;Whittington et al. 2013).…”

Cessation of dangerousness status: an analysis of 224 reports from the Instituto de Perícias Heitor Carrilho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…The severity of an offense, the criminal history, and the psychiatric history of a subject, all of which have been considered as criteria of great importance in studies over the past few years, [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] were quite undervalued in the dangerousness cessation reports we studied. The reports seem to have been made in a manner reminiscent of the model used by Loudet in the 1930s, emphasizing the medico-psychological and social indices as the most important elements in risk assessment.…”

“…2,5 Other criteria that were found to be lacking, shown as important by recent research, are historical variables (psychiatric and criminal) and the examination of subjects by forensic experts, specifically concerning the severity and typicality of the crimes. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Several studies discuss that subject as regards the use of the HCR-20, worldwide 20,31 and specifically in Brazil. 32 To not take into account such information may reduce the quality of a report, inasmuch as factors that are apt to be associated with an increased risk of recidivism could be overlooked.…”

Ofensores sexuais avaliados pelo Desenho da Figura Humana

“…No entanto, a relevância deste trabalho é verificada ao encontrar dados que corroboram evidências retratadas pela literatura da área. No entanto, fazem-se necessários mais estudos acerca do fenômeno estudado, com grupos maiores e com outros métodos projetivos, como sugerido por outros investigadores da área (Achá, Rigonatti, Saffi, Barros, & Serafim, 2011;Beech, Bartels, & Dixon, 2013;Davis & Archer, 2010;Levenson, Prescott, & Jumper, 2014;Willians & Finkelhor, 1990).…”