Schizophreina, Neighbourhood and Crime. The relation between social desorganisation, mental disorder and crime

• Objective: This study was designed to explore the concentration of schizophrenic patients to socially disadvantaged areas in Malmö. Method: A case-finding study of schizophrenia was combined with a victimisation survey. Data was factor-analysed and visualised using geographical information system software. Results: The schizophrenic patients lived predominantly in socially disorganised areas characterised by high levels of disorder, fear of crime and victimisation. Regression analyses showed that local informal social control and concrete fear of crime explained one-third of the variance in schizophrenia prevalence. Measures of victimisation and social disorder, together with schizophrenia prevalence, were found to explain 52% of the variance of concrete fear of crime in the neighbourhood. Conclusions: Our hypothesis is that these circumstances cause vicious circles that tend to maintain or worsen an already negative situation, with detrimental effects on psychosocial functioning and on the quality of life of the persons with schizophrenia. Key words: schizophrenia, crime, fear of crime, victimisation, social disorganisation

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