Major affective disorders and forensic psychiatry.

Major mental illnesses, such as major affective disorders and schizophrenias, form a relatively small diagnostic group among mentally disordered offenders. The major affective disorders are less common when compared with schizophrenics among such offenders. Yet, some of the most violent crimes, such as murder, attempted murder, and serious assaults, especially intrafamilial violence, are committed by major affective disorder patients. The offenses by this group of patients are committed while suffering from active symptoms of the illness. As such, a substantial majority is not considered fully criminally responsible for the offense. Many such offenders are found not guilty by reason of insanity and are sent to psychiatric hospitals.