The role of alcohol, drugs, suicide attempts and situational strains in homicide committed by offenders seen for psychiatric assessment

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The use of alcohol and drugs at the time of offense, suicide attempts and situational strains were compared in 109 killers and 38 nonviolent offenders seen for psychiatric assessment. More killers than nonviolent offenders used alcohol and drugs at the time of their offense, but there was no difference in previous attempts at suicide nor in situational strains. Killers did have more recent frustrations than the other group. The use of intoxicants in violence-prone individuals is apparently the most important factor in homicide.

This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit: