Abstract
OBJECTIVE: There are important differences in frequency and type of offence committed by individuals with severe mental disorders (SMD), depending on whether their antisocial behaviors began at an early age or as adults. However, individuals having shown early antisocial behaviors do not form an homogenous group. This study's objective is to test if the antisocial behaviors earliness could explain this heterogeneity. METHOD: 137 men with SMD under 3 separate legal status were recruited. They were distributed in 3 groups according to the antisocial behaviors earliness. RESULTS: The participants in the childhood group commit more violent offences and more of them present a substance use disorder compared with those in the adult group. A more frequent alcohol use disorder separates the youth group from the adult group. There is no significant difference between the childhood and the youth group, but there are more reported offences in the childhood group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the age of antisocial behaviors onset should be considered in evaluating risk and managing individuals with SMD.