Homicide Offending And Its Main Determinants In Patients With Schizophrenia Or Bipolar Mood Disorders

Aims: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of homicide in patients suffering from schizophrenia or bipolar mood disorders and determine the main underlying determinants of this violent behavior.Method: In a retrospective study, we reviewed the characteristics of 600 consecutive patients hospitalized at Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran with the main diagnosis of schizophrenia (n=300) or bipolar mood disorders (n=300).. The diagnosis was made based on the psychiatric report and the DSM-IV criteria. Study information was collected by reviewing hospital record files.Results: In our sample 13.3% of patients with schizophrenia and 20.0% of those with bipolar mood disorders committed homicide. In both groups, more than two-thirds of offenders were male and more than half were younger than 30 years. In patients with schizophrenia the main triggers of homicide were delusional beliefs (50.0%) followed by auditory hallucinations (50.0%). In bipolar mood disorders the main triggers of homicide included paranoid delusional beliefs (73.3%), excitement, irritability and impulsive behavior (20.0%), and auditory hallucinations (6.6%).Conclusions: A notable proportion of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar mood disorders in Iran commit homicide. Homicide is considerably more prevalent in men, in younger patients, and in those with delusional beliefs.