The association between psychopathology of first-episode psychosis patients within the schizophrenia spectrum and previous offending |
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Authors: | Runa Munkner Soeren Haastrup Torben Joergensen Peter Kramp |
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Affiliation: | 1. Psychiatric Centre Glostrup, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen County, Nordre Ringvej, DK-2600, Glostrup, Denmarkruna.munkner@dadlnet.dk;3. Psychiatric Centre Glostrup, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen County, Nordre Ringvej, DK-2600, Glostrup, Denmark;4. Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup University Hospital, Copenhagen County, Nordre Ringvej, DK-2600, Glostrup, Denmark;5. The Clinic of Forensic Psychiatry, Ministry of Justice, Blegdamsvej 6B, DK-2100, Copenhagen ?, Denmark |
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Abstract: | Patients with schizophrenia have been shown to have an increased risk of criminality. The aim was to describe possible psychopathological differences between schizophrenia spectrum patients with and without a criminal career before first-episode psychosis. In a multi-centre study, 16 psychiatric treatment centres included and rated 477 patients with first-episode psychosis over a 2-year period on socio-demography, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, OPerational CRITeria checklist, Global Assessment of Functioning, Premorbid Adjustment Scale and Self-report Insight Scale for psychosis. Data were linked with data concerning criminal and psychiatric history. No key characteristics were found to assist the early detection of criminal persons before first psychiatric hospital contact for a psychotic incident. However, when adjusted for sex, age, abuse, living conditions, marital status, employment status and education, a primarily positive symptomatology was associated with a prior criminal career. The premorbid level of functioning and several function parameters were also significantly associated with criminal history. There are significant differences in psychopathology between schizophrenia spectrum patients with and without a criminal career before first-episode psychosis, and a better screening procedure in the judicial system could detect these individuals earlier and make adequate treatment possible. |
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Keywords: | Crime Forensic psychiatry Psychopathology Schizophrenia and disorders with psychotic features Substance-related disorders |
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