TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2006//
TI  - Rates of mental disorder in people convicted of homicide: National clinical survey
JO  - British journal of psychiatry
A1  - Hunt, Isabelle M.
A1  - Shaw, Jon
A1  - Flynn, Sandra Marie
A1  - Meehan, Janet
A1  - Robinson, Jeff
A1  - Bickley, Harriet
A1  - Parsons, Rebecca
A1  - McCann, K.
A1  - Burns, J.
A1  - Amos, T.
A1  - Kapur, Navneet
A1  - Appleby, Louis
SP  - 143
EP  - 147
VL  - 188
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Previous studies of people convicted of homicide have used different definitions of mental disorder. AIMS: To estimate the rate of mental disorder in people convicted of homicide; to examine the relationship between definitions, verdict and outcome in court. METHOD: A national clinical survey of people convicted of homicide (n=1594) in England and Wales (1996-1999). Rates of mental disorder were estimated based on: lifetime diagnosis, mental illness at the time of the offence, contact with psychiatric services, diminished responsibility verdict and hospital disposal. RESULTS: Of the 1594,545 (34%) had a mental disorder: most had not attended psychiatric services; 85 (5%) had schizophrenia (lifetime); 164 (10%) had symptoms of mental illness at the time of the offence; 149 (9%) received a diminished responsibility verdict and 111 (7%) a hospital disposal - both were associated with severe mental illness and symptoms of psychosis. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest an association between schizophrenia and conviction for homicide. Most perpetrators with a history of mental disorder were not acutely ill or under mental healthcare at the time of the offence. Some perpetrators receive prison sentences despite having severe mental illness.
LA  - 
SN  - 0007-1250
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.188.2.143
ID  - ref1
ER  -