Introduction. Recent studies have shown a growing correlation between
violence and mental illness, but there is a higher risk of violent crimes
only in certain cases of mental disorders. This study presents
sociodemographic and psychiatric characteristics of homicide offenders in
Serbia, in the Province of Vojvodina in a 10-year period (1996-2005).
Material and Methods. The obtained data are based on performed forensic and
psychiatric expert investigations of 154 homicide offenders in preceding
period, considering sociodemographic data, personal history and current
psychiatric status. Data were analyzed using the statistical John?s Macintosh
programe. Results. The male offenders were in the great majority (92%) as
well as a low level of education (87%). A positive history of criminal acts
was found in 24% of the subjects. Minority of subjects (21%) consumed alcohol
on a daily basis. At the time of committing the crimes, 57% of homicide
offenders were under the influence of alcohol, and just 2% of other
psychoactive substances. Among the offenders who had previously received
psychiatric treatment (31.2%), the most frequent diagnosis was alcohol
addiction (25%) and anxiety disorders (22.9%). During the psychiatric
examination 70.8% of the subjects were diagnosed with mental disorder:
personality disorders (41%), alcohol addiction (84%), neurotic disorders
(65%), schizophrenic psychosis (5.2%), affective disorders (3.2%), paranoid
psychosis (2.6%), organic disorders (19%), psychoactive drug addiction (13%)
and mental retardation (0.6%). Emotionally unstable personality disorder was
dominant among personality disorders (55.6%). Diminished mental competency
was established in 77.9% of subjects at the time of the homicide, being
rather sever in most of them. All those diagnosed to have a psychotic
disorder were mentally incompetent. Conclusion. Emotionally unstable
disorders were the most common among the offenders who underwent forensic
evaluation. A relatively low presence of psychotic disorders imposes the need
for destigmatization particularly of the patients suffering from major mental
illnesses.