Different needs in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who behave aggressively towards others depend on gender: a latent class analysis approach

Background There is limited research with inconsistent findings on differences between female and male offender patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD), who behave aggressively towards others. This study aimed to analyse inhomogeneities in the dataset and to explore, if gender can account for those. Methods Latent class analysis was used to analyse a mixed forensic dataset consisting of 31 female and 329 male offender patients with SSD, who were accused or convicted of a criminal offence and were admitted to forensic psychiatric inpatient treatment between 1982 and 2016 in Switzerland. Results Two homogenous subgroups were identified among SSD symptoms and offence characteristics in forensic SSD patients that can be attributed to gender. Despite an overall less severe criminal and medical history, the female-dominated class was more likely to receive longer prison terms, similarly high antipsychotic dosages, and was less likely to benefit from inpatient treatment. Earlier findings were confirmed and extended in terms of socio-demographic variables, diseases and criminal history, comorbidities (including substance use), the types of offences committed in the past and as index offence, accountability assumed in court, punishment adjudicated, antipsychotic treatment received, and the development of symptoms during psychiatric inpatient treatment. Conclusions Female offender patients with schizophrenia might need a more tailored approach in prevention, assessment and treatment to diminish tendencies of inequity shown in this study.

Role of Tribal Family Institutions in the Promotion of Honour Killing

This study is carried out in tribal district Kurram, Pakistan under positivistic methodology with the aim to investigate the role of family institution in honour killing. The results of the study concluded that honour killing is family oriented act that threatens social status and reputation of family. This barbaric act is carried out inside home as well as in public places by the male family members to restore the lost honour. Mostly women become easy victims of such killings while family members of the male offender usually try to avoid his killing by providing him with protection. Creating awareness among tribal people about direction and magnitude of human loss, promotion of the teachings of Islam about human life and liberty and replacing the concept of bravery with cowardice regarding honour killing were presented as some of the recommendations.

The Reliability and Validity of the Measure of Criminal Attitudes and Associates and the Pride in Delinquency Scale in a Mixed Sex Sample of Justice-Involved Youth

It is unclear if self-report measures of criminal attitudes and associates—developed and validated predominately on adult male offender samples—can or should be used with justice-involved girls. With a sample of 300 justice-involved youth (100 females, 200 males), this study examined the reliability and validity of the Measure of Criminal Attitudes and Associates (MCAA) and the Pride in Delinquency Scale (PIDS). Both measures evidenced reliability and convergent and discriminant validity in both sexes. The MCAA and the PIDS consistently predicted general recidivism for males (majority of area under the curve [AUCs; 7 out of 10] ranged from .60 to .68), but not for females (majority of AUCs [6 out of 8] ranged from .50 to .59). Both measures predicted violent recidivism across sex, with the majority of AUCs ranging from .60 to .67. More work is needed with exclusive female samples to better understand and operationalize criminal attitudes through a gender-informed lens.