Mental disorder and criminality: male schizophrenia

This study investigated lifetime prevalence of criminal behavior in a population of male schizophrenia patients. A total of 282 schizophrenia patients was divided into three subgroups (representing schizophreniform disorder, acute schizophrenia, and chronic schizophrenia). The same number of control subjects was drawn from the general population and matched with the patients for sex, age, marital status, occupational level, and community size. The full account of conviction records in the criminal register was used as a measure of criminal behavior. Patients were 5 times more likely to have been convicted of violent crimes, 2 1/2 times more likely to have been convicted of crimes against property, and almost 3 times more likely to have violated drug laws. Criminality rates in schizophrenia depended, however, not only on the type of offense but also on the type or stage of the illness, which contributed to criminal behavior to some extent independently of sociodemographic factors.