PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS IN HOMICIDE VICTIMS

• NCJ Number: 36233
• Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 133 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1976) Pages: 691-693
• Author(s): M HERJANIC; D A MEYER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychiatric Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

VICTIM STUDY ASSESSING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS AND HOMICIDE VICTIMS USING 1973 DATA CONCERNING ST LOUIS HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE VICTIMS AND RECORDS FROM TWO PUBLIC PSYCHIATRIC CARE FACILITIES.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS STUDIED THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT OF 214 HOMICIDE VICTIMS AND 67 SUICIDE VICTIMS. FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE HOMICIDE VICTIMS AND 18 PERCENT OF THE SUICIDE VICTIMS HAD A RECORD OF PSYCHIATRIC CARE; THESE RATES WERE HIGHER THAN THE TREATMENT RATE OF THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT THERE MAY BE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE OCCURRENCE OF HOMICIDE AND THE INCREASED FREQUENCY OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS AMONG VICTIMS OF THIS CRIME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)