The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Researches on female offenders have indicated a high degree of psychiatric morbidity amongst women. Since the rates of female criminality are rising it would appear important to conduct the study of the relationship between criminal behaviour and psychiatric diagnoses in female offenders.

The main purpose of this investigation is to find out origins of crimes in women and to reveal the influence of child and adolescent maltreatment on personality disorders in adult women.

Clinical psychopathological, psychological, statistical.

A cohort of 24 females with diagnosis of personality disorders was examined. All of them had committed crimes of violence. In the majority of the sample women had a previous history of psychiatric admissions (child psychiatric hospitals, adolescent units). The retrospective review revealed that the majority of women in their childhood were exposed to emotional, physical and sexual abuse in their families. Our results point that maltreatment may distort personality formation and social adjustment and contribute to behavior problems, negative relation to socialization and criminal behavior in adulthood.

The study revealed that psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence are predictive of adult criminality in females. This findings may be used as prognostic indicators of development of aggression in female forensic patients.

The study is supported by the Russian Fund of Fundamental Investigations 6-06-00314

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Child sexual abuse allegations are extremely tricky matters to deal with as situations can range from ritual violence at one extreme to complete fabrication by vested interests at the other. A level headed approach is required that does not fall into the trap of categorizing all early childhood memories as ‘false memories’ while also being alert to possible ‘mind control’ coaching of false allegations.

The presentation covers the origins of the false memory syndrome group and the implantation of false memories that is seemingly practiced by vested interests.

Child custody and criminal cases are frequently decided based on testimony of mental health professionals who routinely appear to be poorly informed and blatantly biased.

A review of articles in the BPS publication ‘The Psychologist’ uncovered a large amount of materials written by advocates of the BFMS prompting further research.

There appears to be a multitude of articles written by BFMS associates in The Psychologist. Furthermore, instances of BPS ‘censorship’ are disconcerting. On top of this, concerns have been raised in the US about the ethics of Elizabeth Loftus–the academic ‘darling’ of the false memory movement. Finally cases have come to light where false memories were seemingly implanted by vested interests to ‘snatch’ children into authority care.

The mine field of child sexual abuse needs to be tackled with an even-handed manner considering the full range of possibilities in assessment.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Because of their intrinsic characteristics, forensic interviews with terrorist suspects are perhaps one of the most challenging interviews forensic psychiatrists and psychologists will experience.

This work presents a theoretical and practical framework for understanding terrorist individual psychology and effective interviewing techniques. It will show how the psychopathology of the terrorist, as well as social factors, have to be integrated in the preparation of the interview and in the interviewing process itself.

Forty-eight incarcerated Middle Eastern terrorists (1 women and 47 men) have been interviewed. These terrorists were involved – directly or indirectly – in several attacks claimed by Al-Qaeda or ISIS. Verbal communications were evaluated through questions and key points related to personality disorders described in the DSM-V. Non-verbal communications were analyzed through modalities such as facial expressions, eye contact, and body gestures.

Several verbal and nonverbal characteristics have been identified as common in all the interviewees.

In a way to improve the quality and the quantity of the information gathering, it is suggested, especially with terrorists (but not only), to based the investigative and forensic interviewing on a personality-focused approach. Further studies are also needed to evaluate if terrorists have specific communication skills. Finally, this work proves that indirect assessment, such as consulting records, interviewing partners, family members or friends, is very important in the terrorist forensic assessment.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Incest may be defined as sexual relations between close blood relatives. Legally, incest and sexual aggression toward minors are classified as a criminal behaviour. Tunisia is among the countries from which incest cases are rarely reported.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the psychotic structure and incest, and to describe the individual, clinical, and criminal traits of the incestuous father through clinical observation.

Mr T.G is 46 years old. He is married and has six daughters. His wife appears to be passive, and largely dependent on her husband. Mr T.G has had incestuous relationships, initially, with his two eldest daughters. The acts were followed by the mother's complicit silence and the non-denunciation of the daughters. Two years later, he starts an incestuous behavior with his third daughter. Incest took place in the context of delusion. The patient was convinced that he is responsible of his daughters’ sexuality education. He develops an incoherent theory of purification with a tendency towards morbid rationalism. It is only after four years of insufferable paternal incestuous relationships that the third daughter filed a complaint to the police. A psychiatric expertise concluded that the accused is exempt from criminal responsibility.

Incest is a multi-faceted phenomenon, which makes its approach, comprehension, and treatment quite complex. For a psychotic patient incest is a means to deny alterity by crushing other. It also allows him to find, in this complete power, control over his annihilation anxiety.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

A retrospective study was done on patients admitted to the department for Forensic Psychiatry at the Razi Hospital from 1996 to 2016, initially jailed for detention and drug consumption and judged irresponsible by reason of insanity. Data were collected by record review.

Thirty-two patients were included in the study. Mean age was 27.81 years. Thirty-six percent of the participants were illiterate and 45% were single. More than half of the subjects (54%) had personal psychiatric history and 27, 27% had family history of psychiatric problems. About one third (31.81%) of participants had judicial background: 33% were arrested for public drunkenness, 44% were arrested for violence, and 22% were arrested for theft. Concerning the diagnosis, 45% were suffering from schizophrenia, 22.77% were diagnosed with personality disorder and 27.27% of them would not have any mental trouble. About 50% of the patients did not follow up with treatment.

Addictive disorders are authentic psychopathological disorders. Effective treatment is hindered by the paucity of research on clinical application of treatment models for addictive disorders in this population.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

To determine the frequency and types of aggressive and violent behaviors in acute psychiatric inpatient settings and potential interactions between staffing and patient mix and rates of the behaviours were explored.

Data on violent incidents were gathered prospectively in two acute psychiatric units in two general hospitals and two units in a psychiatric hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Staff recorded violent and aggressive incidents by using Morrison's hierarchy of aggressive and violent behavior. The classification ranged from level 1, inflicted serious harm to self or others requiring medical care, to level 8, exhibited low-grade hostility. They also completed weekly reports of staffing levels and patient mix. Regression analysis was used to calculate relative rates.

A total of 400 violent incidents were recorded over a three-month period. Based on the scale, more than 50 percent of the incidents were serious. Seventy-eight percent were directed toward nursing staff. Complex relationships between staffing, patient mix, and violence were found. Relative risk increased with more nursing staff (of either sex), more non nursing staff on planned leave, more patients known to instigate violence, a greater number of disoriented patients, more patients detained compulsorily, and more use of seclusion. The relative risk decreased with more young staff (under 30 years old), more nursing staff with unplanned absenteeism, more admissions, and more patients with substance abuse or physical illness.

Violent incidents within psychiatric facilities were frequent and serious, with great significance for occupational health. Some clues were found in the prediction of violence.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Schizophrenia increases the risk of offending. Recidivism rates are significant.

Identifying general and violent recidivism risk factors in schizophrenia patients.

We conducted a case control study. All included patients were admitted, at least once, to the forensic psychiatry department in Razi Hospital between January 1st, 1985 and December 31st, 2014 after a decision of irresponsibility by reason of insanity. All those who reoffended during this period were considered as cases. A draw was performed to create the control group. Both groups were matched according to their first offences’ types as well as to their ages. A multivariate analysis was performed.

We included 25 cases and 38 controls. Eight recidivism risk factors were identified. Living in urban poor neighbourhoods (P = 0.039; OR = 1.23), having been unemployed (P = 0.047; OR = 1.22) and not having lived with the family (P = 0.039; OR = 1.36) after discharge were considered as risk factors. The same applied to alcohol (P = 0.032; OR = 1.29) and cannabis use disorders (P = 0.005; OR = 1.34). A hospitalization shorter than 6 months increased the risk by 1.44 (P = 0.039). A combination of conventional antipsychotics (P = 0.003; OR = 1.36) and a poor adherence (P = 0.006; OR = 1.36) were considered as recidivism risk factors too.

All eight recidivism risk factors are dynamic. This makes recidivism prevention conceivable. Measures involving the patient, the health care system, patients’ families, society and the government should be taken.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Schizophrenia increases the risk of offending. Recidivism rates are significant.

Identifying general and violent recidivism risk factors in schizophrenia patients.

We conducted a case control study. All included patients were admitted, at least once, to the forensic psychiatry department in Razi Hospital between January 1st, 1985 and December 31st, 2014 after a decision of irresponsibility by reason of insanity. All those who reoffended during this period were considered as cases. A draw was performed to create the control group. Both groups were matched according to their first offenses’ types as well as to their ages. A multivariate analysis was performed.

We included 25 cases and 38 controls. Eight recidivism risk factors were identified. Living in urban poor neighbourhoods (P = 0.023; OR = 4.86), having been unemployed (P = 0.042; OR = 2.18) and not having lived with the family (P = 0.039; OR = 1.36) after discharge were considered as risk factors. The same applied to alcohol (P = 0.026; OR = 4.89) and cannabis use disorders (P = 0.018; OR = 6.01). A hospitalization shorter than 6 months increased the risk by 1.79 (P = 0.046). A combination of conventional antipsychotics (P = 0.023;OR = 4.81) and a poor adherence (P = 0.001; OR = 10.42) were considered as recidivism risk factors too.

All eight recidivism risk factors are dynamic. This makes recidivism prevention conceivable. Measures involving the patient, the health care system, patients’ families, society and the government should be taken.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

To study neuropsychological factors in persons with mental disorders who are involves in forensic assessment of capacity and find out correlation between decision-making and neuropsychological factors.

The three levels of self-regulation (the level of regulation of mental status, the operational level, the motivational level) and the role of decision making in this structure in persons with mental disorders who are involves in forensic assessment of capacity.

Neuropsychological methods by Luria A.R., patopsychological methods for assessment Higher Psychological Functions (Zeigarnik B.V.), Melbourne decision making questionnaire (a Russian adaptation, Kornilova T.V.).

According to Luria's neuropsychological theory, series of the basic neuropsychological methods include: (1) determine arithmetic task using an algorithm, (2) tests for study of praxis and gnosis, (3) tests for study of memory and attention, (4) test for study of comprehension of logical-grammatic expressions.

• – The three levels of self-regulation correspond to the three functional brain's areas (according to Luria's neuropsychological theory)

• – Decision making correlation with factors of the third brain‘s area (the frontal lobe)

Our research considers neuropsychological factors like possible medical criterion for assessment of capacity.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Psychopathy has been individuated as an important predictor of criminal recidivism. As a consequence, a growing number of studies has examined factors associated with psychopathic traits in criminal population. While spitefulness has been associated with a range of destructive behaviors, there is a paucity of instruments that evaluate the spitefulness (Marcus & Zeigler-Hill, 2015).

Testing the validity and reliability of an Italian version of the Spitefulness Scale.

Correlate Spitefulness Scale scores and other indices of psychological functioning. We recruited an offenders sample (n = 400) and a community sample (n = 400). We administered the Spitefulness Scale (Marcus, 2014), along with the following measures: Dirty Dozen (Carmines & Zeller, 1979), Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004), and SRP (Hare, 1980).

Offenders participants showed higher levels of spitefulness. Further, the construct validity of the scale was confirmed by associations with measures of psychopathy, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal problems.

The use of the Italian version of the Spitefulness Scale seemed promising for the study of emotion recognition in both clinical and nonclinical samples.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Cluster B personality disorders (i.e., Antisocial, Borderline, Histrionic, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders), is characterized by a dramatic pattern of relating to others, with symptoms characterized by a difficulty regulating emotional states and behavior (APA, 2000). The desire to cause pain often characterized these disorders (i.e. borderline) involving vindictively harming another with serious and often negative interpersonal consequences. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research about the nature of relationships between spitefulness and personality disorders.

This study aims to investigate the association between spitefulness and personality disorders in an offenders samples (N = 305).

To investigate the associations among spitefulness and personality disorders. We hypothesized that spitefulness would be differently associated with emotional and impulsive personality disorders (cluster B: antisocial, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic).

As expected, spitefulness and some personality, disorders were positively associated. Specifically, ASPD and Borderline are strongly associated with high levels of spitefulness.

Such results confirm the theorization that the assessment of spitefulness improve the accuracy of diagnosing of these personality disorders.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust has run a Court Diversion Service in South East London since 1991. It provides services for people within the earlier stages of the Criminal Justice System.

This evaluation aims to combine data from across the 25-year period since the introduction of the diversion scheme. It seeks to provide a longitudinal picture to elucidate the impact of service changes during this time.

The evaluation uses data obtained from a variety of sources for four points in time: 2015/2016, 2011, 1999 and 1991. Data across domains was collated to allow longitudinal analysis.

After the initial introduction of the scheme in 1991, the total mean time on remand was noted to drop from 67.1 days to 49.5 days (P < 0.001). There were 280 referrals over 18 months in 1991, 210 per year in 1999, 190 in 2011 and 174 between April 2015 and March 2016. Violent crimes increased from 29% in 1991 to 47% in 2011. The proportion with schizophrenia decreased from 31% in 1991 to 18% in 1999, before increasing again to 25% in 2011. The use of Section 37 hospital order disposal decreased from 15% in 1991 to just 4% in 2011.

The court diversion scheme has produced significant benefits since it was introduced in 1991, despite a rise in the proportion of violent alleged offences. Changes to the service have seen decreased use of hospital orders.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Many studies have shown that schizophrenic patients are responsible for the highest rates of violence among all the mentally ill patients.

Describe the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with schizophrenia examined in a forensic psychiatric assessment and identify the risk factors of violence in these patients.

A retrospective study carried out in the psychiatric department of university hospital of Mahdia during fifteen years involving 40 patients with schizophrenia examined in a forensic psychiatric assessment following a forensic act. These patients were compared to a population of 40 patients followed in the same establishment for the same disease and without criminal record.

Age average of 36.08 years, male (95%), rural origin (65%), primary level education (47.5%), single (65%), unemployed (65%) and average socio-economic level (65%). Personal psychiatric history (87.5%), personality disorder (12.5%), judiciary history (12.5%) and substance abuse (57.5%). Subtypes of schizophrenia: undifferentiated (52.5%) and paranoid (30%). They have committed serious physical assaults (55%) and aggression against property (27.5%). The victim was mostly a family member (40%), under the influence of toxic (22%), driven by delusions of persecution (61%), with hallucinatory mechanism (55%). The psychiatric expert has concluded an abolition of discernment in 77.5% of cases. Risk factors of acting out were: rural origin, alcohol and psychoactive substances use, productive forms of schizophrenia, poor adherence and irregular monitoring.

The knowledge of risk factors improves the management and allows us better prevention of violence among our patients.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Sexual abuse is of great public and high degree of public danger.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of specific socio-demographic factors among sex crime offenders.

The subjects of study are 66 individuals in total, testified by expert psychiatrist and subsequently charged by law as of December 2010, up until today.

Patient record, providing information about different socio-demographic factors. Retrospective research of the available medical documentation. A statistician conducts data research analysis, using specialised software statistical packages for Statgraphics.

The highest percentage of the participants are from the age groups between 15–24 and 45–54 years old. Both age groups consist of 18 people (27%). The two groups with the lowest percentage of sex offenders are the ones between 25–34 –6 (9%) and above 64–6 (9%). The biggest share have secondary education–26 (40%), followed by those with elementary education–24 (36%). The smallest percentage are those with higher education – 2 (3%). There is no statistically significant correlation between the research sample and their residence–34 (51%) live in a city and 32 (49%) – In a village. There is also not a significant difference in their ethnical origins. The biggest percentage of sex offenders have been raised by both parents – 54 (82%).

Sex offenders represent an exceptionally heterogeneous group, our study did not find significant correlation of socio-demographic factors and the profile of the rapist.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

Epidemiological studies in the general population confirm the indisputable link between criminological dangerousness and mental disorders especially anti-social personality, which increase clearly the prevalence of violent behavior.

To dress socio-demographic, clinical and medico-legal profile of offenders, with anti-social personality, in forensic psychiatric examination.

It was a retrospective study of a series of 195 patients with antisocial personality (DSM-IV). They were examined, during the period, from 2009 to 2013, on the occasion of a penal expertise in the department of psychiatry C in the Hedi Chaker university hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.

The mean age of patients at the offense moment, was 29.58 years, with a sex ratio of 26.85. Among them, 66.2% were single, 49.2% had a primary school level and 41% had no profession. Between the patients, 58.5% lived in urban area and 38.5% in a high crime area. Addictive behaviors were reported in 80% of cases. Self-injury behaviors were noted in 33.8% of offenders. Psychiatric histories were reported in 66.2%, and 25.6% of patients have been already hospitalized in psychiatry department. 64.1% had already committed forensic acts, and 36% had been imprisoned at least once. The current offense was: homicide 16.9%; sexual offense 9.2%; violence 18.5%; theft 30.2%. The offense was related to impulsivity (40%) or utilitarian purpose (39%).

A young single man with no profession, a limited educational attainment and a history of impulsive behaviors, such is the profile most frequently encountered among offenders with anti-social personality. Interventions for reducing forensic behavior should focus on those social and clinical characteristics.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.