Homicide in the context of psychosis: analysis of prior service utilisation and age at onset of illness and violence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Public stigma and fear are heightened in cases of extreme violence perpetrated by persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Prevention efforts require understanding of illness patterns and treatment needs prior to these events unfolding.

Aims

To examine mental health service utilisation by persons who committed homicide and entered into forensic care, to investigate the adequacy of mental healthcare preceding these offences.

Method

Forensic patients across two mental health hospitals in Ontario with an admitting offence of homicide between 2011 and 2021 were identified (n = 112). Sociodemographic, clinical and offence-related variables were coded from the health record and reports prepared for the forensic tribunal.

Results

Most patients (75.

SUBMITTER: Penney SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10594185 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature