Treating mentally abnormal killers in a regional secure unit: some suggested guidelines

Despite a growing literature on various psychiatric aspects of homicide, there are few guidelines for treating mentally abnormal killers. This paper describes the background to this area and draws upon the author's experience in an English Regional Secure Unit, working with patients who have killed whilst suffering from an 'abnormality of mind'. A number of treatment issues are raised and some treatment guidelines are suggested. A case study is presented to illustrate some of these points.