Source
The Psychiatric Department P, Glostrup University Hospital, Ndr. Ringvej, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark. rumu@glostruphosp.kbhamt.dk
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Little is known about the temporal relationship between illness onset and the possible beginning of a criminal career among people with schizophrenia, even though criminality, especially violent criminality, has been shown to be more common among people with schizophrenia than among people in general.
AIM:
The aim of this study was to analyse the temporal relationship between registered crime and contact to the psychiatric hospital system.
METHOD:
This is a register-based study merging data on the psychiatric career with criminal records.
RESULTS:
Among the males with schizophrenia, 37% started a criminal career and 13% had committed first violent crime before first contact with the psychiatric hospital system.
CONCLUSION:
The criminality committed before first contact to the psychiatric hospital system is substantial, especially among males with schizophrenia.