Psychiatric disorders among offender patients in the Accra Psychiatric Hospital

Details of personal data, criminal activity and the clinical diagnosis at the time of offence of one hundred and thirty (130) mentally ill offenders confirmed in the Accra Psychiatric Hospital were collected and analysed, to determine the common psychiatric disorders implicated in crime, and the vulnerable age group of such offender patients. Further, their current mental state was examined. The crime rate was found to be highest among late adolescents and young adults. The commonest psychiatric disorders implicated in various criminal acts were the psychotic states especially schizophrenia and drug induced psychotic state. Moreover there was a small group of offenders diagnosed as suffering from harmful drug use without associated psychoses. The duration of these mentally ill offenders was found to be very long although the majority showed no evidence of florid psychotic symptoms. The implications of the findings were discussed and suggestions made regarding the disposal of mentally ill offenders for future consideration.