To determine if criminological details of violence acts in paranoia patients predict their functional prognosis.

A retrospective, descriptive and analytic study have been conducted, based on a chart consult. Twenty-three patients with paranoia (i.e. Chronic delusional disorder type jealousy or erotomania in DSM IV) patients have been included. These patients have been hospitalized in the forensic psychiatry department of Razi hospital of Tunis (Tunisia), between 1995 and 2015, after not being held by reason of insanity, according to article 38 of the Tunisian Criminal Code.

Delusional disorder types were: jealousy (17), persecution (4), erotomania (1) and claim (1). The majority were married (18), undereducated (17), with irregular work (13). Forensic acts were uxoricide (15), attempted murder (5), violence against people (2) and destruction of public properties (1). Patients used bladed weapon in most of the cases (13), in the victim's residence (19), with premeditation in (17) of the crimes. Only 5 patients worked regularly after discharge.

If our results expose further data concerning potential dangerosity of patients with delusional disorders, they also highlight the marginalized situation of these patients when released back into society.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.