Published 29 April 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b1752
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b1752

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Method of homicide is associated with psychiatric diagnosis

Roger Dobson

1 Abergavenny

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Whether someone uses a knife, suffocation, kicking and hitting, or poisoning in committing a homicide is associated partly with their history of mental illness and diagnosis, a study has found.

The authors, from Manchester University, conclude: "Strategies to reduce homicide in the mentally disordered population will therefore need to reflect these differences."

Part of the national confidential inquiry into suicide and homicide by people with mental illness, the study looked at methods of homicide and psychiatric diagnoses in all people convicted of murder, manslaughter, and infanticide in England and Wales between 1997 and 2003 (Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology doi:10.1080/14789940802360870). Where it was established that an individual had had contact with mental health services, a questionnaire was sent to the supervising clinician.

Overall there were 3901 homicide convictions, and 3541 (90%) of the perpetrators were male, with an average age of 27. The commonest method of . . . [Full text of this article]


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