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The role of alcohol, drugs, suicide attempts and situational strains in homicide committed by offenders seen for psychiatric assessment
Author(s) -
Langevin R.,
Paitich D.,
Orchard B.,
Handy L.,
Russon A.
Publication year - 1982
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 - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1982.tb00931.x
Subject(s) - situational ethics , homicide , psychiatry , psychology , suicide prevention , clinical psychology , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , social psychology
The use of alcohol and drugs at the time of offence, suicide attempts and situational strains were compared in 109 killers and 38 nonviolent offenders seen for psychiatric assessment. More killers than nonviolent offenders used alcohol and drugs at the time of their offence but there was no difference in previous attempts at suicide nor in situational strains. Killers, however, did have more recent frustrations than the other group. Results suggest that the use of intoxicants in violence‐prone individuals is the most important factor in homicide.