A Comparison of Amok and Other Homicide in Laos
JOSEPH WESTERMEYER M.D., M.P.H., PH.D.1
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Hospitals
Past studies of amok have focused on the psychopathology of incarcerated survivors; this study, which compares amok with other forms of homicide in Laos, emphasizes social factors as well. Results indicate that objective criteria can be developed for amok and that certain social variables concerning the homicidal person also distinguish between amok and other homicide. However, psychological characteristics prior to amok did not vary significantly for the two groups.
