@article{ref1,
title="Serious criminal offending and mental disorder. Case linkage study",
journal="British journal of psychiatry",
year="1998",
author="Wallace, C. and Mullen, P. and Burgess, P. and Palmer, Sally and Ruschena, D. and Browne, C.",
volume="172",
number="",
pages="477-484",
abstract="BACKGROUND: A relationship exists between mental disorder and offending behaviours but the nature and extent of the association remains in doubt. METHOD: Those convicted in the higher courts of Victoria between 1993 and 1995 had their psychiatric history explored by case linkage to a register listing virtually all contacts with the public psychiatric services. RESULTS: Prior psychiatric contact was found in 25% of offenders, but the personality disorder and substance misuse accounted for much of this relationship. Schizophrenia and affective disorders were also over-represented, particularly those with coexisting substance misuse. CONCLUSIONS: The increased offending in schizophrenia and affective illness is modest and may often be mediated by coexisting substance misuse. The risk of a serious crime being committed by someone with a major mental illness is small and does not justify subjecting them, as a group, to either increased institutional containment or greater coercion.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0007-1250",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}