Homicidal behavior in schizotypical disorder. A case presentation

Abstract

Introduction: Schizotypical disorder appears at very early ages as a general pattern of social and interpersonal deficit; eccentric behavior; reduced capacity to maintain personal relations; and cognitive distortions, which are psychologically inexplicable.
Objective: To establish the medico-legal implications in a case of schizotypical personality disorder that committed homicide.
Case presentation: A 22 years old individual, single, without children, technician, without history of mental disorders who is studied by Forensic Psychiatry because he attacked his maternal grandfather with a knife, which caused his death.  Psychiatric examination was done; the Impulsiveness Scale was applied; and an enlectroencephalogram (EEG) and a psychological evaluation were carried out, which included Bender, Machover, and Rorschach tests. The evaluating staff made the diagnosis of Schizotypical disorder, without mental derangement.
Conclusions: Schizotypical disorder is not a frequent diagnosis in Psychiatry.  When it is involved in criminal behaviors, they occur in isolation and they are usually related to attacks to other persons.  It is a determinant condition of semi-imputability or imputability.  Prison system is not recommended.

Keywords: schizotypical disorder, Psychiatric Study, Forensic Psychiatry, violence, homicide, imputability.