NCJ Number
86720
Journal
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica Volume: 63 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1981) Pages: 208-224
Date Published
1981
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The subjects of this study were 53 mentally ill criminals at Lantoro Institution, an annex of Aro Neuropsychiatric Long-Stay Hospital in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Abstract
Of these patients, 36 had committed homicide while 11 had been involved in other offenses against the person; 40 were diagnosed as schizophrenic, with the paranoid subtypes predominating. All of the 10 epileptics had committed homicide, whereas the few cases of organic psychosis had committed less grievous offenses such as disorderly behavior and stealing. In comparison with the civil (voluntary) admissions to the institution, a greater percentage of the involuntary patients (mentally ill criminals) were found to have lost social contacts, especially with their key relatives. Some of the factors thought to be responsible for this phenomenon were the long duration of hospitalization and the social implications of the offenses committed. Measures for rehabilitating mentally ill criminals in Nigeria are suggested. Charts, tabular data, and nine references are given. (Author abstract modified)