Taking cognizance of mental illness in schizophrenics and its association with crime and substance-related diagnoses.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse how committed crimes and substance-related diagnoses are associated with the age on the first contact with the psychiatric hospital system and the age at diagnosing of schizophrenia among schizophrenics.


METHODS
In a register-based study including all Danes diagnosed with schizophrenia born after November 1, 1963, data on criminality, substance-related diagnoses and contacts with the psychiatric hospital system were analysed.


RESULTS
Compared with the non-convicted schizophrenics the convicted were older on first contact with the psychiatric hospital system and older when the diagnosis of schizophrenia was first given. In contrast, having a substance-related diagnosis was associated with a younger age on first contact but did not influence the age at which the diagnosis of schizophrenia was given.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important that both psychiatrists and the judicial system are aware of possible psychotic symptoms in criminal and abusing individuals to enable earlier detection and treatment.
Munkner
R
R
The Psychiatric Department, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen County, Denmark. rumu@glostruphosp.kbhamt.dk
Haastrup
S
S
Jørgensen
T
T
Andreasen
A H
AH
Kramp
P
P
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology*; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*