Criminal behavior among persons with schizophrenia in rural China

Ran, Mao-Sheng; Chen, Peng-Yu; Liao, Zhi-Gang; Chan, Cecilia Lai-Wan; Chen, Eric Yu-Hai; Tang, Cui-Ping; Mao, Wen-Jun; Lamberti, J. Steven; Conwell, Yeates

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2009.12.026

« Previous Next »Schizophrenia Research
Volume 122, Issue 1 , Pages 213-218, September 2010

Criminal behavior among persons with schizophrenia in rural China

Mao-Sheng Ran
- Division of Social Work, University of Guam, 96923, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Corresponding author. Division of Social Work, University of Guam, Mangilao, Guam 96923, USA.
Peng-Yu Chen
- West China School of Premedical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Zhi-Gang Liao
- West China School of Premedical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Cecilia Lai-Wan Chan
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Eric Yu-Hai Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Cui-Ping Tang
- Xinjin Mental Hospital, Chengdu, 611432, China
Wen-Jun Mao
- Chengdu Mental Health Center, Chengdu, 610036, China
J. Steven Lamberti
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
Yeates Conwell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA

Received 21 July 2009; received in revised form 29 November 2009; accepted 19 December 2009. published online 13 January 2010.

Abstract

Objective

This study is to explore the prevalence and risk factors for self-reported criminal behavior among persons with schizophrenia in rural China.

Methods

We used data from a 14-year prospective follow-up study (1994–2008) of criminal behavior among a cohort (N=510) of persons with schizophrenia in Xinjin County, China.

Results

The rate of criminal behavior was 10.0% among persons with schizophrenia in a rural community during the follow-up period. Bivariate analyses showed that the risk of criminal behavior was significantly associated with being male, unmarried, previous violent behavior, homelessness, no family caregivers, and high scores on measures of total symptoms of illness. In multivariate logistic regression analyses being male and previous violent behavior were identified as independent predictors of increased criminal behavior in persons with schizophrenia in the follow-up period.

Conclusions

Criminal behavior is a common phenomenon among patients with schizophrenia in rural China. The findings of the risk factors for criminal behavior should be considered in planning mental health interventions for high-risk patients and their families.

Keywords: Criminal behavior, Schizophrenia, Risk factors, Community, China