Death by homicide in special hospitals

Homicide by psychiatric inpatients is rare. This paper outlines initially a review of the literature on patients who have killed fellow patients or staff whilst admitted to psychiatric hospitals. It then describes cases of such homicide by patients in Special Hospitals. Various factors which map be associated with such homicides are then discussed. These include the relationship of homicide to suicide, risk of homosexual interaction and associations between psychopathic disorder, homicide and escape. After a homicide has occurred a range of options may then occur according to clinical and administrative factors.