Chromosome studies on men in a Maximum Security Hospital

Abstract

SUMMARY Chromosome studies were done on 315 out of 342 men at the State Hospital, Carstairs, Scotland, a hospital for the treatment of patients with dangerous, violent, or criminal propensities in contitions of special securtiy. All but ten of the men in the hospital had a criminal record and 253 of them were classified as having a severe personality disorder of indetermiante cause. The remainder either had one of the recognized psychoses, or were epileptics, or had brain damage as the result of previous or trauma. Sixteen of the 315 men examined (5.1%) had an abnormal chromosomes complement detectable in mitotic cells. Of these 9 were 47, XYY , one 48, XXY , one 46, XX/‐ 47, XXY/ 48, XXXY , while 4 had a structural autosoma abnormality. Two of the latter were 46, XY , D‐, D‐, t(DqDq)+, 1 was 46, XY , t(1?‐;169?+) and 1 was 46, XY Gq‐. The possible significance of these findings is discussed in regard to behavioural disorders and details are given in the appendix of the family histories, criminal records and clinical and cytological findings for sixteen men.