A Comparison of Male and Female Theft Offenders Remanded to a State Psychiatric Hospital

BSC Woo, G Parker, MI Loh
Correspondence: Dr Bernardine S C Woo, bernardine_woo@imh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
We report a retrospective study examining the prevalence, demographic profile and pattern of psychiatric morbidity of theft offenders remanded for psychiatric assessment by the Singapore courts. Case records of 100 male and 100 female consecutively remanded theft offenders were reviewed. There was a high rate of psychopathology, with schizophrenia as the commonest disorder. Sex differences were identified in demographic profiles, psychiatric diagnoses, types of offences committed and likely psychiatric determinants of the offence. Depression was more common in females while substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder were diagnosed more frequently in males.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, depression, substance abuse, antisocial personality disorder
Singapore Med J 2001; 42(7): 304-307