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Relapse in violent crime in relation to cerebrospinal fluid monoamine metabolites (5‐HIAA, HVA and HMPG) in male forensic psychiatric patients convicted of murder: a 16‐year follow‐up
Author(s) -
Dåderman A. M.,
Lidberg L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.106.s412.16.x
Subject(s) - psychiatry , forensic psychiatry , poison control , psychology , suicide prevention , injury prevention , human factors and ergonomics , monoamine neurotransmitter , occupational safety and health , medicine , medical emergency , serotonin , pathology , receptor
Objective: Our purpose was to investigate if low levels of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamine metabolites of 5‐HIAA, HVA and HMPG predict relapse in violent crimes. Method: Relapse in crime and level of CSF monoamine metabolites (5‐HIAA, HVA and HMPG) was studied in a group of 29 murderers. The follow‐up was 16 years. Results: Fourteen of the 29 murderers were convicted of crime; nine of them committed violent crimes; one was convicted of a new murder. The differences in mean CSF monoamine metabolites were lower in subjects who relapsed into any type of crime, but only the difference in mean CSF HVA was statistically significant. Conclusion: The risk to commit new murder is very small in males who earlier have been convicted of murder. Low levels of CSF HVA is associated with an increased risk for relapse in any type of crime.