[Homicide in the psychotic patient: a study of 24 cases with reference to prediction of short-term outcome]

This research analyses retrospectively a population of 24 psychotic patients, hospitalized in a maximum security institution for the criminality insane and who have committed or attempted to commit murder. The main focus is on finding the clinical elements which are associated with increased homicidal risk, in the short term. With that aim in mind, nine patients that were in contact with a mental health professional, during the month preceding the homicide, were studied more specifically. It seems that in addition to the elements usually described in the literature, the association of depressive and paranoid features in the psychotic is a risk factor for homicide in the short term.