SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND PSYCHIATRIC CHARACTERISTICS AMONG HOMICIDE OFFENDERS IN SERBIA - THE PROVINCE OF VOJVODINA (1996-2005).

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 investigatfons 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 de-stigmatization particularly of the patients suffering from major mental illnesses.