Year: 1994 Source: Journal of the Amer. Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, v.33, no.6, (Jul-Aug, 1994), p.906-08 SIEC No: 19940928

This Letter to the Editor reports on an informal surveillance of 1,786 children & adolescents discharged from psychiatric services at an Arkansas Hospital (1988-92). Case profiles of the 5 homicides identify common features: family substance abuse, personal sexual/physical abuse, dysphoria, conduct dysfunction, & neurodevelopmental deficits (in 4 cases). All of these are associated with increased risk to commit violent acts; the author suggests they may also be risk factors for victimization.