Year: 2001 Source: Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, v.12, no.1, (April 2001), p.36-51 SIEC No: 20020358

This article describes clinical, criminological, & psychosocial features of mentally ill offenders in maximum-security forensic hospitals in Italy. 118 patients admitted to 3 forensic hospitals & a matched control group from community non-forensic services comprised the sample. 16% of the offenders had attempted suicide in the past. At the time of committing the index crime, 60% of the offenders were being treated by a community service, & 58.9% had been compulsorily admitted previously. The needs & problems of this population seem quite specific & often fall beyond the scope of ordinary psychiatric services. (30 refs.)