Clinical correlates of later violence and criminal offences in schizophrenia

Violence and criminality in patients with schizophrenia has been described in several studies but prediction of later criminal behavior is difficult.

We reviewed the national crime register for records of criminal offences committed by 1662 patients with schizophrenia treated between 1990 and 1995 in the Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Munich. Analyses were performed to determine predictors of later criminal behavior, and the psychopathological syndrome scales in the Association for Methodology and Documentation in Psychiatry (AMDP) system were used to establish possible psychopathological characteristics for such behavior.

One hundred and sixty nine (10.2%) of the 1662 patients had been convicted in the 7-12 years after discharge, whereby male patients (117 of 685, 17.1%) outnumbered female patients ( 52 of 977, 5.3%) by more than 3 to 1. The rate of violent crimes was especially high: 62 (3.7%) patients were convicted for physical injury offences. Five cases of manslaughter or murder were recorded. AMDP syndrome scales were found to be predictive for later criminal offences. Significantly higher rates of criminal conviction and recidivism were found for patients with lack of insight at discharge. Analyses also showed a significantly higher risk of non-violent and violent crimes in patients with a hostility syndrome at admission and discharge. There was a significantly lower incidence of criminal behavior in subjects with a depressive syndrome.

Data indicate a significant rate of minor and serious physical injury offences in former inpatients with schizophrenia. Moreover, results identify risk factors for future non-violent and violent criminal behavior in patients with schizophrenia.