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Schizophrenia and Crime

Abstract

The comorbid relationship between schizophrenia and crime may prove difficult to accept by some researchers, practitioners, and the public alike. However, over the last 50 years, accumulating evidence from several follow-up studies and retrospective studies of birth cohorts, patients, and incarcerated populations globally, have established the schizophrenia and crime link. This chapter reviews the growing empirical evidence to date on the risk-factors and cures associated with schizophrenia, crime, and for both of these conditions. By understanding the etiology of this comorbid relationship, we can reduce the stigma that is associated with these disabling conditions and importantly, begin to direct more resources into developing preventive interventions for individuals at-risk for developing these disabling conditions.

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Correspondence to Keri Ka-Yee Wong .

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Wong, K.KY. (2019). Schizophrenia and Crime. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_2315-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_2315-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28099-8

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Schizophrenia and Crime
    Published:
    22 May 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_2315-2

  2. Original

    Schizophrenia and Crime
    Published:
    18 March 2019

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_2315-1