Impaired neuropsychological profile in homicide offenders with schizophrenia

Our ability to predict and prevent homicides committed by individuals with schizophrenia is limited. Cognitive impairments are associated with poorer functional outcome in schizophrenia, possibly also homicide. The aim of the current study was to investigate global and specific cognition among homic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comprehensive psychiatry 2018-08, Vol.85, p.55-60
Main Authors: Engelstad, Katharina Nymo, Vaskinn, Anja, Torgalsbøen, Anne-Kari, Mohn, Christine, Lau, Bjørn, Rund, Bjørn Rishovd
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology
Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology
Comorbidity
Criminals - statistics & numerical data
Female
Homicide - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Illnesses
Intelligence - physiology
Male
Memory
Middle Aged
Neuropsychology
Nonviolence
Norway - epidemiology
Psychotropic drugs
Risk assessment
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia - epidemiology
Schizophrenia - physiopathology
Verbal Learning - physiology
Violence
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Summary:Our ability to predict and prevent homicides committed by individuals with schizophrenia is limited. Cognitive impairments are associated with poorer functional outcome in schizophrenia, possibly also homicide. The aim of the current study was to investigate global and specific cognition among homicide offenders with schizophrenia (HOS). Twenty-six HOS were compared to 28 individuals with schizophrenia and no history of violence (non-HOS), and a group of healthy controls (HC, n = 151). HOS and non-HOS participants were recruited from in- and outpatient units across Norway. An extensive neuropsychological test battery was administered. HOS participants performed significantly weaker than HC in all cognitive domains. Further, statistically significant differences between HOS and non-HOS participants were found for IQ (d = 0.52) and verbal learning (d = 0.82), with larger impairments in the HOS compared to the non-HOS group. Our results indicate that HOS participants show clinically significant impairments in global and specific cognition. •Homicide offenders with schizophrenia (HOS) showed neuropsychological impairments.•HOS were outperformed by healthy controls (HC) in global and specific cognition.•HOS performed weaker than schizophrenia patients without violence history (non-HOS).•The difference between HOS and non-HOS was significant for IQ and verbal learning.
ISSN:0010-440X
1532-8384
DOI:10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.06.002