H. Adler et al., SEVERE DELINQUENCY IN YOUNG-PEOPLE - BACKGROUND FACTORS AND CHARACTERIZING FEATURES, Nordic journal of psychiatry, 49(4), 1995, pp. 263-274
In a retrospective pilot study 127 young criminals, 16 female and 111
male, who underwent forensic psychiatric examination were subjected to
an investigation to find individual and social background characteris
tics and early symptoms. About 50% of the young offenders had been in
child-psychiatric care. On the basis of information from child-psychia
tric records it could be seen that in many of the subjects there was a
multifactorial loading in the background with concomitant parental pr
oblems and constitutional factors, mainly a developmental delay of the
child. Equally often only a developmental delay or family problems we
re noted. The early development was also characterized by aggressive a
nd asocial behaviour. There were some associations between background
factors and current crime. The biologically loaded person was more pro
ne to commit crimes of property, although crimes of violence were comm
on both in this group and in the group with family problems. The sanct
ions did not show any special traits in relation to background problem
s. Psychiatric care was the most common measure. It was concluded that
different background factors must be taken into account, including ps
ychologic, biologic, and social aspects. These factors may, however, d
iffer in importance in an individual case as etiologic, concomitant, a
nd/or secondary signs. All possible etiologic factors must be taken in
to account to form the basis both for preventive measures and for adap
ted rehabilitation.