Original scientific paper
Domestic Homicide Cases Related to Schizophrenic Offenders
Dražen Kovačević
Tija Žarković Palijan
Sanja Radeljak
Marina Kovač
Tajana Ljubin Golub
Abstract
The goal of this study was identification of highly specific patterns of schizophrenia related domestic homicides by
comparing schizophrenic homicide offenders with related domestic homicide group of offenders diagnosed with other
psychiatric disorders. This study was based on the comparison of schizophrenic homicide group and other homicide
group of offenders on the basis of differences in psychosocial and sociodemographic patterns and the modality of crime.
The survey was conducted on mentally insane domestic homicide offenders diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=44) and
second group of mentally insane offenders diagnosed with other psychiatric diagnosis (n=43). All offenders were admitted
to Department of Forensic Psychiatry (Neuropsychiatric Hospital »Dr. Ivan Barbot«, Popovaca, Croatia) for psychiatric
evaluation. They have undergone psychological testing and psychiatric evaluation in order to make forensic expert
analyses of each case particularly. This study showed some specific characteristics in the cases of schizophrenic offenders;
they are more often commit parricides and siblicides, the victims are often males with their own physical strength.
Furthermore, schizophrenic offenders were indifferent upon killing their victim; they were less often provoked by a victim
itself and were sober tempore criminis. Moreover, in the same homicide group we found young, single offenders with high
school education, average intelligence and with positive psychiatric heredity. Finally, in the same group of offenders we
have found no history of military serving, less social developmental disruptions, less history of drug and alcohol abuse
during adolescence and adult age.
Keywords
domestic homicide; schizophrenic offenders; mental insanity
Hrčak ID:
34552
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2008.
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