[Differentiation of impulsive crimes from crimes of passion]

In this article we try to differentiate between impulsive crimes and crimes of passion. The former are all impulsively executed and unplanned aggressive acts where we can find no specific preceding events which can be derived from a relevant relationship between offender and victim. Crimes of passion on the other hand are also impulsive and aggressive acts executed in a highly stressful affective state, but they are directed towards another relevant person and characterized by specific preceding events derived from the relationship between offender and victim. Thus they result from a perceived threat to the offender's self-image. We outline features for assessing crimes of passion as well as some indications which could facilitate them. The above mentioned differentiation between impulsive crimes and crimes of passion is relevant in forensic practice. Assessment of the psychological and psychopathological processes and states described in this article allows forensic psychiatric experts to give more reliable and more distinct recommendations to a court regarding the offender's criminal responsibility.