There is a wide body of literature revealing, that there is a higher risk of violent offending in schizophrenics compared to the general population, as well as a specific offense pattern for schizophrenic violent offenders. Using the data of a representative cohort (n = 308) of violent offender in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, the prevalence of schizophrenia was 13%. Logistic regression analyses showed that schizophrenic violent offenders were less likely to have been raised in a foster home and to have a criminal record for repeat offending. Schizophrenic offenders were more likely to have a family history of schizophrenia, being a Swiss national, and having been treated in a psychiatric hospital prior to violent offending. Schizophrenic offenders were in addition more likely to commit the offense in their own apartment and to choose a related victim (parents or siblings).

These results replicate the finding that schizophrenics are overrepresented in offender populations and that the high number of schizophrenic offenders in contact with the health system prior to offending (psychiatric hospitalization) highlights the possibilities of prevention. It should be discussed to which extent health professionals underestimate the dangerousness of schizophrenics.