J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1996 Mar;14(1):164-175.

A Comparison Study of Forensic Epileptic Patients With Mentally Disordered Offenders: Characteristics and Epilepsy in Criminal Acts

• Lee SB
• Park KW
• Kim JM
• Lee AY
• Chung CS

Abstract

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Epileptic patient's crime rate has been increasing. Causes of such increasing crime rate by epileptic patients are attribute to many factors. To clarify uncertain causative role of epilepsy in crime, analyzed the characteristics of their epilepsy and criminal acts.
METHODS
Medical records, documentations of Justice Department, EEG, Brain CT, and psychiatric tests (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, BIS) of 22 forensic epileptics and 20 forensic psychopathic patients were reviewed. Demograhic features, socioeconomic status, associated psychiatric illness, and characteristics: of epilepsy and criminal acts were analyzed.
RESULTS
All patients were male and the most frequent seizure type found Complex Partial Seizure (CPS) in 14 patients. Nine lateralized patients had right-sided Ictal discharges. Ten patients showed postictal aggression but only one patient committed crime during his postictal confusion state. Intervals between the first seizure and their criminal act were relatively long(14.6 +/- 4.81 years) and compliance prior to their crime was mostly poor. Thirteen epileptic offenders had psychopathic disorders, which may or may be associated with epilepsy. Characteristics of their criminal acts were remarkably different from psychopathic patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Peri-ictal events are rarely associated with crime. 4 complex interplay of organic factors and socially mediated factors such as underlying personality change or psychiatric disorders may play a role in criminal acts of epileptic patients.

MeSH Terms

Aggression
Brain
Compliance
Crime
Criminals*
Documentation
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy*
Humans
Male
Medical Records
Seizures
Social Class
Social Justice