NCJ Number
50721
Journal
Journal of Psychiatry and Law Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1975) Pages: 415-445
Date Published
1975
Length
31 pages
Annotation
PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN CRIMINALS, VIOLENCE OF FORMER PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS, VIOLENCE ASSOCIATED WITH BRAIN DYSFUNCTION, AND PREDICTION OF VIOLENCE AMONG PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS ARE SUBJECTS REVIEWED.
Abstract
RESEARCH LITERATURE EXAMINING ASSOCIATIONS OF VIOLENT DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS WAS REVIEWED, WITH EMPHASIS ON RESEARCH PUBLISHED BETWEEN 1955 AND 1975, THE PERIOD IN WHICH MOST OF THE STUDIES PERTINENT TO PRESENT DAY PSYCHIATRIC POPULATIONS WERE REPORTED. THE FIRST GROUP OF INVESTIGATIONS REVIEWED DEALT WITH THE PRESENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS AMONG CRIMINAL OFFENDERS. THIS REVIEW CONCLUDES THAT THE VARIED RATES OF PSYCHIATRIC PATHOLOGY REPORTED DEFY ANY MEANINGFUL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS, WITH MOST OF THE STUDIES TREATING ALL FELONIES TOGETHER. IT IS NOTED THAT PROGRESS REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP OF DIFFERENT PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS TO VIOLENCE COULD BE MADE BY CONDUCTING STUDIES IN WHICH VIOLENT CRIMES ARE SEPARATED FROM OTHER FELONIES, AND THE FORMER ARE RELATED TO DETAILED SOCIAL AND PSYCHIATRIC HISTORIES OF THE OFFENDERS. THE SECOND MAJOR GROUP OF STUDIES REVIEWED EXAMINED EX-PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS FOR VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. STUDIES ON THE RELATIVE INCIDENCE OF ARREST FOR VIOLENT CRIMES OF EX-MENTAL PATIENTS INDICATE RATES OF VIOLENCE GENERALLY BELOW THAT EXPECTED BY PROFESSIONALS, AND FAR LOWER THAN THAT GENERALLY BELIEVED BY THE PUBLIC. A THIRD GROUP OF STUDIES REVIEWED INVESTIGATED THE HYPOTHESIS OF CEREBRAL PATHOLOGY, PRINCIPALLY TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY, AS A CRUCIAL ANTECEDENT TO SOME CASES OF SEVERE VIOLENCE. CASES SHOWING WHAT HAS BEEN TERMED A 'EPISODIC DYSCONTROL SYNDROME' REPORTEDLY RESPOND WELL TOWARD CONTROLLING THEIR VIOLENCE BY DILANTIN TREATMENT. A FOURTH CATEGORY OF STUDIES AIMED AT PREDICTING VIOLENCE IN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS REVEALED LITTLE SUCCESS. SOME HOPE IS INDICATED IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING OBJECTIVE DANGEROUSNESS SCORES FROM PAST HISTORY INFORMATION, ALONG WITH AGE AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PATIENT. ALSO, NEW PSYCHOMETRIC DEVICES, SUCH AS MEGARGEE'S OVERCONTROLLED AND UNDERCONTROLLED PERSONALITY SCALE, APPEAR PROMISING. (RCB)