Risk of repeat offending among violent female offenders with psychotic and personality disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the rate of criminal recidivism among female homicide offenders evaluated by forensic psychiatrists, to compare this rate with that of other violent female offenders, and to analyze the explanatory variables of recidivism.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study of all women (N=132) sent for forensic psychiatric examination after being convicted of homicide or attempted homicide in Finland during 1982-1992; subjects were followed up until mid-1999. Data were collected from the national crime register, the prisoner record, and Statistics Finland. The authors compared the rate of violent repeat offending in this group with that of other violent women and analyzed the explanatory variables of recidivism.


RESULTS
During the follow-up period, 23% of the study group committed a repeat offense, 15% of which were violent and 3% of which were homicides. Almost half of all repeat offenses occurred within the first 2 years after the index offense. There was no statistically significant difference in violent recidivism between the study group and other violent female offenders. Of those who committed repeat offenses, 81% were diagnosed with a personality disorder, and 10% were diagnosed with psychosis. Criminality prior to the index event, alcohol or drug dependency, and young age significantly raised the risk and rapidity of further offenses.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of recidivism was high in this study group yet was similar to that of other violent female offenders. The risk was high very early after release. It seems that women and men who are violent and have personality disorders are comparable in their risk of recidivism.
Vanha Vaasa Hospital, PO Box 13, FIN-65381 Vaasa, Finland. hanna.putkonen@vvs.fi
Hanna
H
Putkonen
Erkki J
EJ
Komulainen
Matti
M
Virkkunen
Markku
M
Eronen
Jouko
J
Lönnqvist
D000328:Adult; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003415:Crime / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003417:Criminal Psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*