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Violent crime and the menstrual cycle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

P. T. d'Orbán  and
J. Dalton
P. T. d'Orbán*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital, London
J. Dalton
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr P. T. d'Orbán, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG.
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Synopsis

Of 50 women charged with crimes of violence, 44% committed their offence during the paramenstruum (P < 0·02) and there was a significant lack of offences during the ovulatory and post-ovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle (P < 0·01). This association could not be accounted for by psychosocial factors. Offences were unrelated to symptoms of premenstrual tension. When considering treatment, recurrent behavioural changes rather than subjective symptoms should be looked for.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , May 1980 , pp. 353 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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