DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL COMPARISON OF OBSESSIONAL FOLLOWERS AND OFFENDERS WITH MENTAL-DISORDERS

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare certain demographi c and clinical variables in a group of obsessional followers and in a group of offenders with mental disorders. Method: A static group desig n comprised of a nonrandom group of convenience and a randomly selecte d comparison group was used. Twenty obsessional followers in custody a nd 30 offenders with mental disorders in custody were evaluated by psy chiatrists and psychologists for court-ordered reasons during their cr iminal proceedings. Both groups were evaluated during the same period, in the same court diagnostic clinic, and for the same psycholegal rea sons. The group of obsessional followers was measured on demographic, clinical, and victim variables. Inferential comparisons that used nonp arametric statistics were done between groups on selected demographic and clinical variables. Results: The obsessional followers were signif icantly older, more intelligent, and better educated than the offender s. There were no significant differences in DSM-III-R axis I diagnoses . Axis II diagnoses showed significant differences, with the obsession al followers more likely to have a personality disorder other than ant isocial personality disorder and less likely to have antisocial person ality disorder. Conclusions: The likelihood of obsessional followers h aving a nonantisocial axis II personality disorder (related to attachm ent pathology) distinguishes them from offenders with mental disorders in general. They are also likely to be older, smarter, and better edu cated, consistent with their resourcefulness and manipulativeness. Idi ographic aspects of the obsessional followers further illuminate their psychological defenses and object relations.