Trends in Danish research on crime and mental health (1970–94): A review

Abstract

This is a review of the last 25 years' research on forensic psychiatry in Denmark. Thirty studies are reviewed. The studies are categorized on the basis of the types of population they investigate: 1) the background population; 2) criminals; 3) psychiatric patients; 4) forensic patients; and 5) others. The main results are 1) the number of schizophrenic patients under psychiatric treatment orders has increased dramatically; 2) criminal recidivism is common among forensic patients, 3) more than 50% of the forensic patients have a dual diagnosis (substance abuse and psychosis); and 4) the number of homicides committed by schizophrenics has increased. It is concluded that research on forensic psychiatry is a prerequisite for explaining the etiology of the changes in numbers and types of patients and for evaluating and improving forensic examination and treatment.

Denmark, Forensic psychiatry, Mentally ill offenders, Review article.