EPA-0181 – Clinical and Sociodemografic Features of Homicidal Psychiatric Patients at a Regional State Psychiatric Hospital in Turkey

Abstract

Aims:

We investigated clinical and sociodemografic features of mentally ill homicidal offenders without criminal responsibility to find out the predictors of homicidal criminal acts(1).

Method:

160 of the 197 cases, we could be able to contact and who were released from the forensic psychiatry clinic of the Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases after mandatory inpatient treatment in 2006 were investigated with the treatment history for five years after release. 48 of the 160 cases, who were qualified for insanity defense had committed a homicidal crime. Sociodemgraphic variables and variables associated with disease are documented.

Results:

All of the homicidal offenders were male, they were more likely to be single or divorced, unemployed, were living in metropolitan areas and 83,3 % had a diagnosis of psychotic disorder, 14.6 % had a diagnosis of mood disorder. They usually had a legal guardian and had social insurance. Almost none of them had a history of regular psychiatric treatment before the criminal act.

Conclusion:

At the homicidal offenders group, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders were more prevelant, comorbidity was rare.