RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Axis I and Axis II Diagnostic Parameters of Homicide
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP 249
OP 269
VO 18
IS 3
A1 Yarvis, Richard M.
YR 1990
UL http://jaapl.org/content/18/3/249.abstract
AB A series of 100 murderers was examined to discern overall patterns of psychopathology. In addition, demographic and other discriminating factors were used to test the hypothesis that murderers do not constitute a homogenous population and that subgroups will differ diagnostically. DSM-III diagnostic criteria were used to make each diagnosis. The sample was found to be representative of the universe from which it was drawn at least as could be determined by available comparative criteria. Four Axis I (psychoses, substance abuse, dysthymia, no Axis I) and three Axis II (antisocial, borderline, no Axis II) diagnostic categories accounted for more than 80 percent of the study population. The murderers were found to be a heterogenous population, and subgroups based on a combination of assailant's crime pattern, sex, prior criminal history, and relationship to victim manifested different prevailing diagnostic patterns.