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Patients with paranoia have always been a group of exiting but daunting patients for mental health professionals. Indeed, the risk of a violent acting out with important aggressive discharges confers to these patients an elevated dangerosity potential. If various criminological aspects of violence in paranoia have been described, their link to functional prognosis of patients have been seldom addressed.AimTo determine if criminological details of violence acts in paranoia patients predict their functional prognosis.MethodsA retrospective, descriptive and analytic study have been conducted, based on a chart consult. Twenty-three patients with paranoia (i.e. Chronic delusional disorder type jealousy or erotomania in DSM IV) patients have been included. These patients have been hospitalized in the forensic psychiatry department of Razi hospital of Tunis (Tunisia), between 1995 and 2015, after not being held by reason of insanity, according to article 38 of the Tunisian Criminal Code.ResultsDelusional disorder types were: jealousy (17), persecution (4), erotomania (1) and claim (1). The majority were married (18), undereducated (17), with irregular work (13). Forensic acts were uxoricide (15), attempted murder (5), violence against people (2) and destruction of public properties (1). Patients used bladed weapon in most of the cases (13), in the victim's residence (19), with premeditation in (17) of the crimes. Only 5 patients worked regularly after discharge.ConclusionIf our results expose further data concerning potential dangerosity of patients with delusional disorders, they also highlight the marginalized situation of these patients when released back into society.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Patients with paranoia have always been an attractive and redoubtable group of mentally ill to mental health professionals. In fact, beyond complex psychopathology and relatively better functioning, these patients do represent a real threat to themselves and their presumed persecutors.ObjectivesTo explore criminological aspects of medicolegal acts committed by patients with paranoia.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective and descriptive study, based on medical charts consult. Were included, patients suffering from paranoia (persistent delusional disorder: jealous/persecutory/erotomania type, DSM-IV), hospitalized in the forensic psychiatry department of Razi hospital between 1995 and 2015. This psychiatry department provides medical care for male patients not held by reason of insanity, according to article 38 of the Tunisian Criminal Code. Patients’ socio-demographic characteristics were collected as well as criminological details of their acts of violence (victim, weapon type, crime scene, premeditation…).ResultsWe collected 23 patients. Delusional disorder types were: jealousy (17), persecution (4), erotomania (1) and claim (1). The majority was married (18), undereducated (17), with irregular work (13). Forensic acts were uxoricide (15), attempted murder (5), violence against people (2) and destruction of public properties (1). Patients used bladed weapon in most of the cases (13), in the victim's residence (19), with premeditation in (17) of the crimes. Nine patients reported their act of violence to the authorities.ConclusionOur results do expose further data concerning potential dangerosity of patients with delusional disorders, and by that invites mental health professionals to prevent these acts with screening for violence predictors and risk factors.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.