Psychiatric characteristics of homicide perpetrators in Serbia

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Homicide, a major public concern, has always attracted the attention of criminology, psychiatry, psychology, and other related disciplines. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and type of mental disorders in 94 attempted/ committed homicide perpetrators.

Methods The authors conducted a psychiatric assessment of all perpetrators based on psychiatric interviews, psychological testing, and the examination of available medical records.

Results The key findings of this study imply that there is a large percentage of violent crime perpetrators with mental disorders (62%). When we excluded people with personality disorders from this group, we found that the most common major mental disorders among the perpetrators were psychosis and alcohol use disorders (approximately 10% each).

Conclusion The results highlight the importance of the early identification and treatment of people with mental disorders in the general population, as this could reduce the possibility of criminal behavior. The high overall incidence of mental disorders in the group of homicide perpetrators indicates the need for a reform of psychiatric services in Serbia and the promotion of psychiatry in the community, which would contribute to bringing professionals closer to people with mental disorders and thus, timely recognition and treatment of these patients.

Keywords: homicide; mental illness; psychosis; alcohol use disorders; personality disorders