Comparing forensic and non-forensic women with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a European study

Abstract

Studies about violence by women with severe mental disorders are rare. The aim of this paper is to analyse the sample of women diagnosed with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD) from the EU-VIORMED study who had offended violently and were admitted to forensic facilities (cases), and compare them to women with SSD who never exhibited violent behaviour (controls). Cases and controls matched for age and diagnosis were compared for sociodemographic, clinical, neuropsychological, and treatment-related characteristics using a standardised assessment. When compared to 36 controls, the 26 cases were significantly older, with longer duration of illness, had fewer years of education, were less likely to have children, and were more likely to have a comorbid personality disorder. Cases were less functionally impaired and scored lower on cognitive domains. There were no differences between the groups in exposure to childhood or adult violence, but a greater proportion of cases reported more frequently being witness to and victims of violence and more frequently reported being beaten, kicked, or punched. Results suggest that the emergence of violent behaviour in women with SSD might be shaped by various factors including violent victimisation, personality factors, soft cognitive impairment and perhaps as a result a more extended duration of illness.

Keywords: Violence; female sex; forensic mental health services; mental disorders.