Schizophrenic Psychosis and Crime Prevention: An Intervention Project

Abstract

The implementation of a clinical treatment project in any mental health service is critical. More than just thinking about clinical cases, it is essential to prevent the occurrence of decompensation in many of our patients. Individuals deemed Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) have often committed very serious crimes. The main goal is to investigate the monitoring and treatment of patients who suffer from a schizophrenic psychosis, specially. A total of 72 patients participated in the study. The participants were individuals deemed NGRI by the courts, under Article 20 of the Portuguese Criminal Code. Results demonstrated the unequivocally need to follow up decompensated patients after the court order extinguished and these individuals were free and responsible for their own paths. Literature shows that many of them recidivate and become dangerous. Suggestions are presented for a better framing and psychiatric follow-up. Thanks to the implementation of this project centered in outpatients’ treatment, patients could be treated before its clinical decompensation would cause more serious criminal behavior than those perpetrated until that time. The importance of the implementation of this program is demonstrated by the clinical presentation of one case.