[Serious crimes during treatment in legal psychiatric commitment (section 63 StGB)]

The analysis of 11 cases of violent offenses committed during hospital order treatment in the Haina Forensic Psychiatric Hospital between 1985 and 1991 showed that biographical and forensic variables are more powerful predictors of dangerousness than treatment and psychopathological data. In more than half of these cases it was at least questionable whether the individuals had been placed correctly inside the hospital order system. In comparison to data found in inmate populations and a new study from North America the question arises as to whether the treatment might not have contributed to increase dangerousness in at least some of our cases.