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Arrest Types and Co-occurring Disorders in Persons with Schizophrenia or Related Psychoses

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Abstract

This study examined the patterns of criminal arrest and co-occurring psychiatric disorders among individuals with schizophrenia or related psychosis that were receiving public mental health services and had an arrest history. Within a 10-year period, 65% of subjects were arrested for crimes against public order, 50% for serious violent crimes, and 45% for property crimes. The presence of any co-occurring disorder increased the risk of arrest for all offense categories. For nearly all offense types, antisocial personality disorder and substance use disorders conferred the greatest increase in risk for arrest. Among anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder was associated with a greater risk of arrest for serious violent crimes but not other offense types. Criminal risk assessments and clinical management in this population should focus on co-occurring antisocial personality disorder and substance use disorders in addition to other clinical and non-clinical factors.

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Acknowledgement

The analysis reported in this paper was supported by NIMH grant 1RO1 MH65615 and a grant from the Sidney R. Baer Jr. Foundation. The authors wish to acknowledge the contribution to this paper of the late Dr. Steven Banks, without whose efforts the data upon which the analyses are based would never have been accessible.

Conflicts of interest

Authors declare having no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Mental Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA

    Patrick J. McCabe MPH, Paul P. Christopher MD, Kristen M. Roy-Bujnowski MA, Albert J. Grudzinskas Jr. JD & William H. Fisher PhD

  2. Minnesota State Operated Forensic Services, 100 Freeman Drive, St. Peter, MN, 56082, USA

    Nicholas Druhn PsyD

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  1. Patrick J. McCabe MPH
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  2. Paul P. Christopher MD
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  3. Nicholas Druhn PsyD
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  5. Albert J. Grudzinskas Jr. JD
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  6. William H. Fisher PhD
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Correspondence to Patrick J. McCabe MPH.

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McCabe, P.J., Christopher, P.P., Druhn, N. et al. Arrest Types and Co-occurring Disorders in Persons with Schizophrenia or Related Psychoses. J Behav Health Serv Res 39, 271–284 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-011-9269-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-011-9269-4

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