Citation

Gümüş T, Cesur E, Keyvan A, Türkcan A. Psychiatry Psychol. Law. 2022; 29(4): 631-643.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Law, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13218719.2021.1956386

PMID

35903497

PMCID

PMC9318258

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship of delusional disorder and its subtypes to criminal and violent behavior by comparing the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with and without a criminal history and identifying predictors of crime. The records of 346 patients with a delusional disorder diagnosis were retrospectively evaluated using a sociodemographic data form, a crime violence rating scale and the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS). The results show that homicide and attempted homicide were committed more frequently by patients with jealous delusions, whereas verbal assault and crimes against the public were committed more frequently by patients with persecutory and other delusions. Patients with a criminal history had more hospital admissions and longer stays. Marital status, persecutory delusions, a high OAS score and older age were found to be associated with higher risk of crime. Clinical subtypes and sociodemographic characteristics seem to discriminate delusional disorder patients' risk of crime.

Language: en

Keywords

aggression; homicide; violence; crime; clinical subtypes of delusional disorder; delusional disorder; delusions; forensic patients; offense-related factors; sociodemographic characteristics