The recovery of homicidal people diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder-An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Objective: Identity recovery in people diagnosed with schizophrenia who have committed homicide poses several difficulties. Premorbid mental illnesses, the experience of psychosis, and the absence of cohesive ego functions may result in the inability to integrate the homicidal act into self-identity. Problems with integration increase the risk of recidivism and further mental problems.