This population-based study suggests that substance use and developmental factors also play a role.

Aggressive behavior and agitation, which sometimes occur in neuropsychiatric disorders, have an unclear link to violent crime. Researchers examined associations between convictions for violent crime in 1973–2009 and earlier diagnoses of epilepsy or traumatic brain injury (TBI), identified in hospital inpatients or outpatients in Sweden. The study population comprised 22,947 epilepsy patients and 22,914 TBI patients, each matched by age and sex to 10 controls (birth years, 1958–1994). Separate analyses of unaffected siblings were conducted.

Violent convictions occurred in 4.2% of the epilepsy group versus 2.5% of the control group; this significant difference diminished after adjustment for substance use. Rates were higher in patients with partial epilepsy. The conviction rate was similar between patients and their unaffected siblings.

In the TBI analysis, the conviction rate was 8.8% in TBI patients and 3.0% in controls, a significant difference that weakened after adjustment for substance use. Conviction rates were lower in patients with only concussion and higher in those with focal injuries than in those with other injury types. The rate in siblings was 4.2%.


Citation(s):

Fazel S et al. Risk of violent crime in individuals with epilepsy and traumatic brain injury: A 35-year Swedish population study. PLoS Med 2011 Dec; 8:e1001150.

Volavka J. Violent crime, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury. PLoS Med 2011 Dec; 8:e1001148.