Objective: When repetitive criminal behaviors have been mentioned; antisocial personality disorder (APD) has been regarded as a significant factor in this subject. In this study, we aimed to examine the factors, which affected criminal behaviors of patients with antisocial personality disorder.
Methods: A broad participation study has been carried on about antisocial personality disorder with compliance problems in our clinic. 70 of the antisocial personality disorder patients had committed more than one crime and 33 of them had committed one crime. Patients were divided into two groups: patients who had committed one crime and who had committed more than one. Significant sociodemographic and score of psychometric scales (HARE psychopathology scale, COPE scale) had been compared between each group.
Results: Each two groups (committed one crime and committed more than one) were similar from the many point of sociodemographic and psychometric features. However, there were some differences become prominent. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in childhood trauma (APD patients who had committed one crime 51%, patients who had committed more than one 71%) HARE psychopathology scale scores (patients who had committed one crime 17.21±4.07, patients who had committed more than one 20.00±5.48) educational level and substance use (patients who had committed one crime 45%, patients who had committed more than one 77%) (p<0.05). Also there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in COPE subscale scores (Problem-Focused Coping, Acceptance)
Conclusion: The features of groups were similar from many points. When prominent different points had been evaluated, we had an interesting result related with education. In many studies about crime, lower education level and educational failure have been associated with tendency to violence. Moreover lower education level has been regarded as an important factor about bringing crime into a profession. However, in our study, education level of patients who had repetitive crime history was higher than the group with single crime. Removal point of psychopathy and impulsivity is thought to be important in explaining of this result. Indeed a similar situation is observed in cases of suicide. It is known that persons with lower education level are more impulsive and so that they often choose methods, which are difficult to repair again