title: Psychopathology and weapon choice: a study of 103 perpetrators of homicide or attempted homicide.
abstract: The aim of this study was to ascertain if a relationship between weapon choice and psychopathology existed. The perpetrators (103) were evaluated at the Department of Criminology and Forensic Psychiatry of the University of Bari in southern Italy. Psychiatric examination and psycho-diagnostic tests were administered for each of the perpetrators and a database was subsequently formulated. The results showed a significant correlation between some types of mental disorder and weapon choice. A strong correlation was found between delusional disorders and the use of sharp weapons, whereas depressive disorders were more strongly associated with asphyxia. Organic disorders were found to be highly correlated with the use of blunt instruments. In cases where the homicide was the result of an impulsive reaction, the use of sharp weapons was most often observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Psychiatry (DIMIMP), University of Bari, Policlinico, Bari, Italy. r.catanesi@criminologia.uniba.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catanesi
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carabellese
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troccoli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Candelli
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grattagliano
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Solarino
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fortunato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D054041:Weapons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult