Mental disorders and homicidal behavior in female subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Although violent behavior is one of the most important factors that have a detrimental effect on quality of life, there are very few quantitative epidemiological studies published on this issue. In particular, female homicidal behavior has remained poorly studied. This study reveals the association between some specific DSM-III-R disorders and female homicidal behavior.

METHOD: The author reviewed forensic psychiatric examination of 127 female homicide offenders in Finland over a 13-year period.

RESULTS: Female homicide offenders had about a 10-fold higher odds ratio than the general female population for having schizophrenia or a personality disorder. The disorders with the most substantially higher odds ratios were alcohol abuse/dependence and antisocial personality disorder.

CONCLUSIONS: Mental disorders appear to have a statistical relationship with homicidal behavior in countries with relatively low crime rates. On the basis of the data, there may be special subgroups of women among whom the risk of homicidal behavior is very high.