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Forensic-psychiatric war and peacetime comparison of homicide - timing, psychiatric diagnoses and mental accountability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

A. Sutovic
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
R. Hodzic
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
O. Sinanovic
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

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The objective of this study was to confirm important differences in the tested variables regarding criminal homicide in the wartime in Bosnia and Herzegovina in comparison with the peacetime.

Methods used:

50 war time cases of criminal homicide and 50 peacetime criminal cases were compared by using Hi square test, Fisher's exact test, Mantel Haenszel test.

The difference in presence of homicide depending on seasonal appearance between war and peacetime varied up to the level of p<0.005. During the winter period 38% of homicide were committed while in summer time mostly 32% homicide were committed. In the peacetime period of 8 years taken as a test (1984-1992) no homicide was committed during the month of August.

During the war the occurance of homicides was balanced in each week day while during the peacetime most homicides took place during the week-end. (p=0.0056). In regard to the period of the day when the homicide was committed, wartime homicides occurred mostly between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m, while during the peacetime they ocurred between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. (p<0.05). Statistically, there are no significant differences between the two causes pertaining to the psychiatric diagnosis set for those who commit homicide.

In both cases homicides are disturbed persons (II axle), then normal people, i.e. people "without diagnoses" and two categories that represent the majority of 78% in war and 86% in peace. Among homicide with diagnosis in axle I in both samples syndromes that are equally represented are: alchochol dependency, chronical brain syndrome, mental retardation, paranoic psychosis, schizophrenia, epilepsy.

Forensic- psychiatric evaluation of mental soundness is almost identical regarding categories of mentally sound and mentally non sound persons. During the war period the number of the accountable was rather reduced while during the peacetime the number of the accountable was reduced but not significantly.

Type
Poster Session 1: Antipsychotic Medications
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2007
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