Study of mentally ill offenders (2015)

Conducted for the Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital.

Study of mentally ill offenders in Denmark – a cohort study of individuals undergoing mental examination in the period 1978 to 1992. Among other things, to obtain knowledge about criminal relapse, mortality and victimisation among mentally ill offenders compared with different control groups of offenders without mental health problems, and members of the general population.

The analysis is based on collected data of mentally examined patients at the Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Risskov, Denmark and the Ministry of Justice, Clinic of Forensic Psychiatry, Copenhagen, Denmark – 1980 to 1992. Collected data compared against register data from The Central Criminal Register, The Psychiatric Central Register and various registers with socioeconomic data.

Several analyses have been implemented, e.g.relapse of mentally ill violent offenders based on data, and more analyses and articles are being planned.

We have worked with i2minds in connection with register research linked to the renewed crime risk of mentally examined individuals. With i2minds, we have experienced a high degree of productivity as well as a systematic approach to data processing – and not least – analyses delivered on time and in accordance with our requirements. Michael and Rikke are highly competent and possess a unique ability to handle and integrate complex data sets from the Danish registers. At the same time, they also know how to disseminate complex analysis models in an easily understandable way while emphasising the strengths and weaknesses of a given research design/analysis. To process microdata from Statistics Denmark’s registers would have been a time-consuming and extremely challenging task for us researchers. Thanks to Michael and Rikke’s help, the register research study was a positive experience. We can wholeheartedly recommend i2minds in their capacity as data processors.

Susanne Bengtson MSc in Psychology, Ph.d., Senior Researcher and Jens Lund, MSc in Medicine, Dr. Med.