Homicidal Threats
JOHN M. MACDONALD M.B.1
1 Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Associate Director of the Inpatient Service, Colorado Psychopathic Hospital, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, Colo. 80220
Although homicidal threats are more often made than carried out, the necessity for assessment of risk and the implementation of preventive measures when such threats are made are apparent. The author examines the incidence of potential predictors of homicide among three groups—hospital patients who have made threats to kill, convicted homicide offenders, and a control group of hospital patients who have no history of homicidal behavior.
