The rate of previous treatment observed in this sample raises issues relevant to mental health policy.
Although 53% of the sample were diagnosed with an axis I diagnosis (including substance use disorders),
less than half of these individuals had ever been hospitalized.
Also, among those with an axis I diagnosis,only 8% had received any treatment in the 3 months preceding the homicide offense.
Moreover, this low frequency of recent psychiatric treatment differed markedly by race;
only 3% of AfricanAmerican defendants with at least one axis I diagnosis received treatment in the 3 months preceding the offense,
compared with 28% of non-African American defendants.
Widespread disparities in access to care and cultural differences regarding help seeking are likely explanations for this difference.
The low rate of treatment in the months preceding the offens,
however, highlights the need for enhanced engagement of high-risk individuals (especially during times of emotional crisis)
if mental health care providers expect to have an impact on serious violence.