Victimization and perpetration of crime in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders involuntarily admitted

Abstract

Introduction

Incidence of crime victimization and perpetration is higher in severely mentally ill people than in general population. In the literature, fewer papers investigate the risk of being a victim than the risk of perpetrating violence in psychiatric patients.

Objectives

To study incidence of self-reported crime victimisation or perpetration in 2 multicentric database of patients suffering from schizophrenia or related psychoses who are admitted involuntarily to hospital.

Methods

Included involuntarily admitted patients with ICD-10 diagnosis of F20-F29, age 18–65, giving informed consent. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios. Structured interview and BPRS by trained operators.

Results

Three hundred and eighty-three and 543 cases for each database. Victims: 37.8% and 28.0%. Accused: 25.6% and 11.6%. Victims had higher BPRS subscale of Mania, were unemployed and had fewer social contacts. Accused had higher mania in one of the 2 sample. Sociodemographic predictors included unemployment and homelessness, younger age and male gender.

Discussion

Sociodemographic factors are important predictors of being accused of a crime. Higher symptoms of mania are associated with higher odds of being victim of violence in 2 multicentric samples, after correction for other variables. Rates of both victimisation and perpetration rates are higher than in samples of people from general population or from outpatients settings. Accused and victims have a strong association with consideration on the context of life.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.