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.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Dåderman
A M
AM
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Occupational Therapy and Elderly Care Research, Division of Forensic Psychiatry, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.
Lidberg
L
L
D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D010667:Phenylpyruvic Acids / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D010667:Phenylpyruvic Acids; C016827:vanilpyruvic acid; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D006719:Homovanillic Acid