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. 2004 Aug;110(2):98-107.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0047.2004.00305.x.

Homicide and major mental disorders: a 25-year study

H Schanda  1 , G Knecht, D Schreinzer, T Stompe, G Ortwein-Swoboda, T Waldhoer
Affiliations

Homicide and major mental disorders: a 25-year study

H Schanda et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2004 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the association between major mental disorders (MMDs) and homicide.

Method: The rates of exculpations because of MMDs among 1087 Austrian homicide offenders during 1975 and 1999 were compared with the rates of the respective disorders in the general population.

Results: MMDs were associated with an increased likelihood of homicide (two-fold in men and six-fold in women). This was exclusively because of schizophrenia (age-adjusted ORs in men 5.85, CI 4.29-8.01; in women 18.38, CI 11.24-31.55) and delusional disorder in men (OR 5.98, CI 1.91-16.51). Comorbid alcohol abuse/dependence (additionally) increased the odds in schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder.

Conclusion: The increased likelihood of homicide in subjects with MMDs cannot be fully explained by comorbid alcoholism. The results point to the special importance of sufficient treatment for a subgroup of mentally ill individuals being at higher risk of violence.

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Comment in

  • Homicide and major mental disorders.
    Malik M, Silva E. Malik M, et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006 Jan;113(1):75; author reply 75. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00680.x. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006. PMID: 16390380 No abstract available.

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