PERSONAL HISTORY FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RECONVICTION IN PERSONALITY DISORDERED PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM A SPECIAL HOSPITAL

Sixty-two out of 112 patients who were discharged directly to the comm unity from a Special Hospital were identified as suffering from person ality disorder. This article describes general, psychiatric and crimin ological characteristics of the group. The clinical accounts of their index offences were carefully examined and dichotomized into sexual an d non-sexual; in addition those index offences which featured a sexual element were identified. The first subsequent reconviction for each p atient was identified and these were dichotomized as 'serious' or 'min or'. A sexual index offence, prior imprisonment and absolute discharge were associated with higher rates of reconviction. A sexual index off ence and a sexual element to the index offence were associated with hi gher rates of reconviction for serious offences. Prior substance abuse was associated with higher rates of minor offending but with lower ra tes of serious offending. There was a linear relationship between the number of previous convictions and the probability of reconviction. Re sults are discussed in terms of decision-making in relation to the det ention and discharge from hospital of mentally disordered offenders.