Citation

Laajasalo T, Ylipekka M, Häkkänen-Nyholm H. Crim. Behav. Ment. Health 2013; 23(1): 18-29.

Affiliation

Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 9, 00014, Finland; Forensic Center for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. taina.laajasalo@helsinki.fi.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/cbm.1844

PMID

23147941

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite a growing forensic psychiatry literature, no previous study has examined in detail homicidal behaviour among offenders with cluster C personality disorders - the avoidant, dependent or obsessional personality disorders. AIMS: This study aims to compare homicide offenders with cluster C personality disorders with those with other personality disorders on criminal history, offender-victim relationship and post-offence reaction variables. METHODS: The sample was drawn from all Finnish homicide cases of 1996-2004 for whom a forensic psychiatric evaluation had been conducted. Data were extracted from forensic psychiatric and crime reports. RESULTS: In a nationwide sample of 593 homicide offenders, 21 had at least one cluster C personality disorder. These offenders had significantly shorter criminal histories than the others. Offender-victim relationship did not differ between the groups, but confession to the crime and feelings of remorse were more common among people with cluster C disorders. In addition, compared with other personality disorder clusters, co-morbid depression was more common. CONCLUSIONS: Cluster C personality disorders are rare, but not nonexistent, among homicide offenders. Observed differences in their backgrounds and post-offence behaviours indicate that they may have special needs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: en