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Mental disorders and homicidal behavior in Finland
M Eronen1, P Hakola, J Tiihonen
1Department of Forensic Psychiatry, University of Kuopio, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Finland.
Archives of General Psychiatry
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder significantly increase the risk of homicidal violence in men and women. Other mental disorders showed no significant association with increased homicide risk.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Psychopathology
- Criminology
Background:
- Finnish homicide investigations achieve high clearance rates (approx. 95%).
- Most homicide offenders undergo thorough psychiatric evaluations.
- Study data comprises 693 offenders from a recent 8-year period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between specific mental disorders and homicidal violence.
- To quantify the increased risk of violence associated with diagnosed mental health conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of psychiatric evaluation data from homicide offenders.
- Calculation of odds ratios (ORs) to determine the statistical risk increase for specific mental disorders.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia elevates the odds of homicidal violence by approximately 8-fold in men and 6.5-fold in women.
- Antisocial personality disorder increases the odds over 10-fold in men and over 50-fold in women.
- Affective disorders, anxiety disorders, dysthymia, and mental retardation did not significantly elevate the odds (OR < 5.0).
Conclusions:
- Homicidal behavior in Finland is statistically associated with specific mental disorders (DSM-III-R).
- Schizophrenia and antisocial personality disorder are significantly linked to increased risk of perpetrating violence.