Mental Disorder and Crime: a General Overview

This paper aims to provide a broad overview regarding the relationship between major mental disorders and criminal thinking which further alludes to criminal behaviour. Current research proposes an especial correlation between Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and criminal tendencies, where ASPD will be utilized as an exemplar to offer intricate explanations of such relationships. As previous studies of similar angles tend to focus on subtle aspects within this web; zooming out allows for a comprehensive summary of current findings and suggested directions for further investigation. Symptoms of other mental disorders associated with the topic will not be omitted despite the primary focus on ASPD. Whilst it is important to note that the materialization of thinking into behaviour is undeniably complex, the analytic framework of epidemiology can be used to deduce potential causes for delinquencies and offences which in turn fuels according change within criminal justice systems. Many questions and controversies remain unresolved especially in relation how disorder should authorize special treatment. ‘Crime’ in this case refers to both mindset and action; psychiatric lens are likely to lend more insights to motives within the broader socio-cultural landscape. This paper will account for the social values whilst maintaining a precise scientific approach, sketching out a logical chain from causes to consequences of crime in relation to mental disorders and finally its implications from a legal and rehabilitative perspective.