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Excessive violence and psychotic symptomatology among homicide offenders with schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Laajasalo Taina,
Häkkänen Helinä
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
criminal behaviour and mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1471-2857
pISSN - 0957-9664
DOI - 10.1002/cbm.635
Subject(s) - homicide , psychology , psychiatry , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , clinical psychology , psychosis , injury prevention , poison control , suicide prevention , domestic violence , human factors and ergonomics , medicine , medical emergency
Background It is not currently known how psychotic symptoms are associated with the nature of violence among homicide offenders with schizophrenia, or, more specifically, whether different psychotic symptoms are differentially linked with excessive violence. Aim To identify factors associated with the use of excessive violence among homicide offenders with schizophrenia. Methods Forensic psychiatric examination statements and Criminal Index File data of 125 consecutive Finnish homicide offenders with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were analysed. Results Nearly one‐third of the cases in this sample involved extreme violence, including features such as sadism, mutilation, sexual components or multiple stabbings. Excessive violence was a feature of acts when the offender was not the sole perpetrator or when there was a previous homicidal history. Positive psychotic symptoms, including delusions, were not associated with the use of excessive violence. Conclusions These results highlight the importance of variables other than clinical state when examining qualitative aspects of homicidal acts, such as the degree and nature of violence, by offenders with schizophrenia. Further study is needed with a more specific focus on the qualities of the violence among different subgroups of offenders, but inclusive of those with psychosis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.