title: Rates of mental disorder in people convicted of homicide. National clinical survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies of people convicted of homicide have used different definitions of mental disorder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the rate of mental disorder in people convicted of homicide; to examine the relationship between definitions, verdict and outcome in court.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national clinical survey of people convicted of homicide (n=1594) in England and Wales (1996-1999). Rates of mental disorder were estimated based on: lifetime diagnosis, mental illness at the time of the offence, contact with psychiatric services, diminished responsibility verdict and hospital disposal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1594,545 (34%) had a mental disorder: most had not attended psychiatric services; 85 (5%) had schizophrenia (lifetime); 164 (10%) had symptoms of mental illness at the time of the offence; 149 (9%) received a diminished responsibility verdict and 111 (7%) a hospital disposal - both were associated with severe mental illness and symptoms of psychosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest an association between schizophrenia and conviction for homicide. Most perpetrators with a history of mental disorder were not acutely ill or under mental healthcare at the time of the offence. Some perpetrators receive prison sentences despite having severe mental illness.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Suicide Prevention, University of Manchester, Williamson Building, Oxford ford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Isabelle M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bickley
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amos
authors.forename: Navneet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Appleby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology