Homicide and major mental disorders: a 25-year study.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate the association between major mental disorders (MMDs) and homicide.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Schanda
H
H
Justizanstalt Göllersdorf, Schlossgasse 17, Vienna, Austria. hans.schanda@univie.ac.at
Knecht
G
G
Schreinzer
D
D
Stompe
T
T
Ortwein-Swoboda
G
G
Waldhoer
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications