Crime in Huntington's disease: a study of registered offences among patients, relatives, and controls
a Kommunehospitalet, University Hospital,
Copenhagen, Department of Psychiatry, b Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, University of
Copenhagen, c Rigshospitalet, University State Hospital, Copenhagen,
Department of Psychiatry, Denmark
Correspondence to: Correspondance to: Dr SA Sørensen, Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
Received 3 February 1998 and in revised form 6 May 1998;
Accepted 12 May 1998
OBJECTIVES
Criminal behaviour has been described
as a problem in Huntington's disease, but systematic studies including
control groups have been missing. Based on information from Danish
registries, rates and types of crime committed by patients with
Huntington's disease, non-affected relatives, and controls were studied.
METHODS99 males and 151 females with
Huntington's disease were compared with 334 non-affected first degree
relatives (134 men and 200 women) and to matched control groups as to
frequencies and types of registered criminal convictions. Due to
specific age criteria, the group of relatives comprised only about 9%
carriers of the gene coding for Huntington's disease.
RESULTSIn male patients, crime rates were
significantly increased compared with first degree relatives (RR=2.8)
and controls (RR=2.3). All types of crime occurred more often in male
patients; more severe crimes (murder, rape, arson) were not reported.
Rates of drunken driving were significantly increased compared with
relatives (RR=3.8) and controls (RR=7.1). Crime rates were neither
increased in female patients nor in male and female first degree relatives.
CONCLUSIONThe results indicate increased
prevalence of criminal behaviour in males carrying the gene for
Huntington's disease. The crimes committed seem to be of relatively
minor severity and are probably closely linked to the personality
changes often seen as a result of the disease process, although
depressive reactions to the disease, with secondary alcohol misuse, may
also play a part. Environmental and familial factors shared by patients
and non-affected at risk persons seem to be of less aetiological importance.
© 1998 by Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
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