Homicide by people with mental disorders in the Sudan : a clinical and demographic profile

Abstract EN

ackground: There are few published studies on mental illness and homicide in developing countries, particularly Arab ones.

Aim: The current study explored the clinical and demographic characteristics of homicidal patients with mental illness admitted to the forensic psychiatry facility in Khartoum, Sudan.

Method: Using a retrospective design, 44 people with mental illness who committed homicide and were sentenced to Eledresi Forensic Hospital were assessed.

Demographic and clinical information was obtained from patient medical records and comprehensive clinical interviews were conducted with patients and their relatives.

Results: Participants were men (one woman) aged between 20-30 years.

Almost half (48%) had been abusing alcohol and/or cannabis.

Thirty six (82%) had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, three had delusional disorder (7%), two had drug-induced psychosis (4%) and only one suffered from postpartum psychotic major depressive disorder (2%).

The majority (80%) of them had delusions and/or hallucinations at the time of the crime.

Conclusions: Homicide offenders with mental illness were more likely to be single men diagnosed with schizophrenia with psychotic features who were illiterate or had minimal education, were 20 to 30 years of age, abusers of alcohol or cannabis, and living with their families; the victims were more likely to be a family member.

Compared with other studies, the results reflect cultural differences.