Roberto Catanesi

University of Bari Aldo Moro | Università di Bari · Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina

Objective Due to their consistent and individualistic patterns, palatal rugae (PR) are used in forensic dentistry as an ancillary method for personal identification. This study aimed to compare the impression of the PR obtained with the classic alginate impression and casting of the plaster model with the impression of the palate made with an intra...

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of homicide cases and their perpetrators with psychotic illnesses in Italy and Turkiye, identifying the extent to which country-specific factors influence offender profiles and crime-scene characteristics. Method: This cross-national chart review study recruited individ...

Inmates' food refusal is a large-scale phenomenon raising clinical, ethical, and professional responsibility issues. Obtaining a clinical balance of the right to refuse food with the right to protect the inmate's health can be a challenging process. Several reasons may support inmates' choice of refusing food, including political or protest reasons...

Although sex and gender differences are well-known in psychiatry, their research in the forensic psychiatric population is still limited. This study is aimed at bridging this gap by examining gender-specific factors and treatment needs among forensic psychiatric patients who are highly dangerous. By retrospectively analyzing data from a 1-year obse...

Background Hospital falls are a frequent sentinel event worldwide, yet prevention remains challenging. There is a need to standardize hospital fall management in healthcare facilities. This study aimed to analyze policies and procedures used by Italian healthcare facilities to reduce hospital falls. Methods The Italian hospitals’ public procedures...

The possible tendency of subjects to decrease, hide or omit symptomatic aspects of their mental functioning is one of the main problems in forensic psychological and psychiatric evaluations. We aimed at verifying the possible existence of significant differences in the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III) scales scores between a samp...

Starting in 2015, the Residencies for Execution of Security Measures (REMS) became the place of treatment and care for dangerous offenders who were acquitted due to a mental disorder in Italy. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and personality disorders (PD) are the most common psychiatric disorders among REMS patients. This study aimed to iden...

There is a large volume of online crimes. The aim of this work is to reflect on virtual crimes that are apparently different but actually have commonalities. In these cases, the corporeal sphere that mediates interpersonal relationships is absent, and perceptions of the real world and emotional regulation may be altered, which poses the risk of des...

The Italian mafia organizations represent a subculture with values, beliefs and goals that are antithetical to and undermining of the predominant society. The conduct of individual members includes such extreme violence for material gain, it may at least superficially suggest a severe personality disorder. Since the first edition of the DSM and int...

While denial of pregnancy and neonaticide are rare, they are potentially associated and share some risk factors. Neonaticide has been proposed as the extreme outcome of a denial of pregnancy. However, the process leading to such a possible outcome is not yet fully understood. The primary goal of this essay is to examine the various definitions and...

The legislative process that led to the closure of the Judicial Psychiatric Hospitals (OPG), replaced by the Residences for the Execution of Security Measures (REMS), constituted a significant step forward towards the establishment of a community model of care of offenders with severe socially dangerous mental disorders more respectful of human rig...

The main function of the medical-psychological assessment to evaluate fitness to drive (FTD) is to safeguard the community against risks posed by drivers who, owing to psycho-physical disease, personality disturbances, abuse of psychotropic substances or drugs, can be a hazard to safety on the roads. In the context of psychodiagnostic investigation...

Background: The need for highly effective therapies in rheumatologic diseases has led to the widespread and growing use of a heterogeneous class of molecules called biological agents. The increasing experience with biological agents has raised concerns about safety and efficacy issues that need to be discussed in the informed consent acquisition p...

To evaluate the characteristics of the reported workplace violence in a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) by analyzing an electronic hospital incident reporting system (IRS). One hundred thirty reports were retrieved from January 2017 to June 2020, referring to assaults committed by patients (71% males) with an average age of 29.8 years (SD, 1...

Objective: The authors sought to study the transcriptomic and genomic features of completed suicide by parsing the method chosen, to capture molecular correlates of the distinctive frame of mind of individuals who die by suicide, while reducing heterogeneity. Methods: The authors analyzed gene expression (RNA sequencing) from postmortem dorsolat...

Few data exist regarding treatment with antipsychotics in forensic psychiatric patient populations with high social dangerousness. We performed a secondary analysis of 681 patients treated with at least one antipsychotic, extracted from a 1-year observational retrospective study, conducted on 730 patients treated in the Italian Residencies for Exec...

Sex-offenders are at risk of criminal recidivism. For the treatment to be truly effective, it must be individualized. For this purpose, an accurate assessment should focus on criminological, psychological, and psychopathological features. The present study compared sex offenders with other offenders on historical experiences (i.e., problems with vi...

The Italian mafia organizations represent a subculture with values, beliefs, and goals that are antithetical to and undermining of the predominant society. The conduct of individual members includes such extreme violence for material gain, it may at least superficially suggest a severe personality disorder. Since the first edition of the DSM and in...

Background DSM-5 provided a dimensional model of personality disorders which may be more clinically informative for the assessment and management of prisoners than a categorical one, as diagnoses of personality disorders alone cannot explain the type of violence. The role of DSM-5 personality facets is however understudied in child molesters, and n...

Initial evidence exists on a subtype of matricide committed by subjects suffering from severe mental disorders. Matricide perpetrators often undergo a forensic psychiatric evaluation during the subsequent criminal trial because of supposed legal insanity. The few studies on matricide by mentally disordered perpetrators suggested a possible associat...

Intentional homicide, a declining phenomenon in Italy, represents one of the most extreme forms of violence. A specific subgroup of homicidal assailants is represented by those affected by mental disorders, where the relationship between psychopathology and characteristics of the homicidal attack is not yet fully understood. We analyzed the case fi...

The authors focus their interest on the socially deviant mafia world, especially on the question of a psychopathic dimension of individuals in mafia. From the scientific point of view this continues to be an unknow world. In all these cases, individuals in mafia, their “feats”, their profiles seem to correspond to popular conceptions of the psychop...

Violence against healthcare workers is a global phenomenon. Psychiatric settings are among the places at greatest risk of being a victim of aggression. Several strategies aimed at preventing violence in healthcare settings and implement protective measures have been proposed. Nevertheless, forensic psychiatric settings have been poorly investigated...

I disturbi depressivi rappresentano una delle principali cause di disabilità a livello mondiale. I meccanismi eziopatogenetici non sono ancora del tutto chiariti, pur essendo stati individuati fattori psicosociali e biologici di vulnerabilità. Le molteplici presentazioni cliniche, oltre alla variabilità di decorso e di risposta ai trattamenti, rend...

Involuntary psychiatric hospitalisation in Italy raises some critical forensic issues. We analysed the sociodemographic, psychopathological, and behavioural characteristics of involuntarily hospitalised psychiatric patients, and the effectiveness of the juridical procedure of guarantee. Case files (n=2796) related to involuntary psychiatric hospita...

Driving behaviors and fitness to drive have been assessed over time using different tools: standardized neuropsychological, on-road and driving simulation testing. Nowadays, the great variability of topics related to driving simulation has elicited a high number of reviews. The present work aims to perform a scientometric analysis on driving simula...

The present study was designed to compare gender differences in psychiatric diagnosis with the dimension of psychopathy in women and men who had attempted or committed homicide. The study samples consisted of 39 homicidal females and 48 homicidal males who were confined in one of Italy’s REMS or prison facilities in two southern provinces of Italy...

Research into sexual aspects poses a fascinating challenge that is highly cogent to clinical profiling disciplines, but also constitutes a more 'narrative and culturally oriented' approach to medicine and psychology. Assessments of subjects affected by gender dysphoria and their internal, relational and sexual world is a still more complex task, si...

Depressive disorders represent a major cause of disability worldwide, but their etiopathogenetic mechanisms have not yet been fully explained. The interaction between psychosocial and biological vulnerability factors however plays a major role in determining depression. The multiple and variable clinical characteristics of depression, as well as it...

Over the years, the number of homicides in Italy has progressively decreased, ultimately becoming one of the lowest rates in Europe (357 = 0.7 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2017, according to ISTAT[Link]). The number of homicides committed by women was about 9% of the total number of homicides during our study period. The percentage has increased in r...

Despite the central role in criminal trials, there is little research on the decision-making processes of experts in forensic psychiatry. We aimed to investigate the role of sociodemographic, psychopathological, and criminological characteristics in forensic psychiatric decisions on criminal responsibility and social dangerousness in criminal trial...

L’HCR-20V3 è tra gli strumenti più diffusi al mondo per la valutazione del rischio di recidiva in popolazioni carcerarie, forensi e cliniche adulte (dai 18 anni in poi). Lo strumento si basa su un modello di giudizio professionale strutturato (structured professional judgement). Il giudizio professionale strutturato è un metodo analitico che viene...

Various studies have shown that women with psychopathy tend to commit crimes that are less violent than those of psychopathic men. The present study was designed to address the influence of psychopathy on the crimes committed by female offenders. A national sample of female offenders found NGRI or of diminished responsibility and at risk for crimin...

The term overkill usually indicates the infliction of massive injuries by far exceeding the extent necessary to kill the victim. Only few articles or textbooks report this term that is mostly associated with sex-motivated homicides where injuries, generally stabbing, are directed to significant sexual parts of the body. The aim of this study is to...

Learning Overview: After attending this presentation, attendees will better understand an uncommon case of overkill by proxy and its significance from a forensic psychiatric standpoint rather than a forensic pathology standpoint. Impact on the Forensic Science Community: This presentation will impact the forensic science community by emphasizing th...

The issue of suicide has always been a very sensitive and important problem, that raises many questions in the society where it occurs, that is not always able to oppose an adequate response. Every scientist in the field agrees that this is an act provoked by multifaceted reasons, which include cultural, social and biographical motives. Therefore,...

When drawing up an expert opinion, the Rorschach test is frequently used to gain a better understanding of the way of thinking, view of reality, management of affect and, in general, the personality of the authors of homicide.All these elements will be helpful to the expert called upon to clarify any level of mental disorder in the perpetrators of...

The process of deinstitutionalization of the Italian forensic psychiatric system consisted mainly of the replacement of forensic psychiatric hospitals with the Residences for the Execution of Security Measures (REMS), and with community treatment of forensic psychiatric patients. The 30 existing REMS are regional-based community residential facilit...

Background: Previous findings suggest that differences in brain expression of a human-specific long intergenic noncoding RNA (LINC01268; GRCh37/hg19: LOC285758) may be linked to suicide by violent methods. We sought to replicate and extend these findings in a new sample and translate the results to the behavioral level in living healthy subjects....

Before its closure on April 1, 2015, the Castiglione delle Stiviere was the only maximum-security hospital in Italy that admitted women. In this context, the investigators examined factors related to psychopathy that were thought to be gender specific. Several prior investigations have reported a significant correlation between psychopathy and bord...

Objective Previous findings suggest that differences in brain expression of a human-specific long intergenic non-coding RNA ( LINC01268 ; GRCh37/hg19: LOC285758 ) may be linked to aggressive behavior and suicide. The authors sought to replicate and extend these findings in a new sample, and translate the results to the behavioral level in living he...

The experience of detention often involves the affective, relational, cultural, narrow-minded isolation, contributing to eradicate family relationships, and making it particularly difficult to maintain affective relationships in an environment such as detention, characterized by great restrictions. Literature has not failed to detect the reflection...

The continuation of the marriage between two spouses of which one has requested to register his changed sexual identity does not in any way affect the rights the Constitution guarantees to the other married couples or to question the principle now transposed into our order, Only two people of different sex can marry. No one is hiding the complexity...

The authors examine the phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors by members of the Catholic clergy. After reviewing the scientific literature on the subject, and the available data on the phenomenon, the authors focus their attention on the psychological dynamics of abuse, questioning the motivations to act of priests, on the psychological mechanisms t...

Objective Informed consent is an essential element in doctor–patient relationship. In particular, obtaining valid informed consent from patients with neurocognitive diseases is a critical issue at present. For this reason, we decided to conduct research on elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disord...

A 48-year-old physical therapist with no history of psychiatric disorders or suicidal tendencies was found dead by his relatives inside his apartment. Multiple stab wounds were present on the chest and the abdomen. Several more superficial cuts were also seen on the neck and the left wrist. At the death scene, there was a large pool of blood in the...

Parricide is a category of homicide in which the victims are the parents, and the killers, their children. The authors report a case of a 45-year-old man who killed his 73-year-old widowed father in an extremely violent manner: he struck the father in the head with a wooden wash board, stabbed him with a pair of scissors and several times with a sc...

Aims To evaluate treatment decision-making capacity (DMC) to consent to psychiatric treatment in involuntarily committed patients and to further investigate possible associations with clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of patients. Methods 131 involuntarily hospitalised patients were recruited in three university hospitals. Mental capa...

Background: The purpose of this longitudinal observational study is to evaluate the course and impact of clinical, social, and behavioral variables on the involuntary readmission of psychiatric patients, during a 6-months follow-up after discharge from a prior involuntary hospitalization. Methods: N=131 involuntarily committed psychiatric patien...

The development and diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies has resulted in a profound change in the way in which we learn, we relate to others and build their identity. Internet and social media are tools and contexts to improve knowledge and skills but also put themselves at risk to get involved in violent and aggressive interacti...

The use of internet is modifying our way of acting, and also our way of thinking, involving a change in one's image, the image of the others and our relationships. However, internet is a new instrument of communication but also a tool to commit crimes. As a matter of fact crimes committed on the internet may be considered as one of the main typical...

For a long time, there is a change in the content of the psychiatrist's "security position", as evidenced by the analysis of the Criminal Law case of recent years. There has been, in all respects, the overwhelming return of social demand not only to take care of mentally ill but also to strive to counteract potential violence, self-directed or dire...

Objectives: Workplace violence is a common risk for mental health professionals, and psychiatrists often encounter it in a variety of settings. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and features of violent episodes toward psychiatrists in various mental healthcare system settings. Methods: All psychiatrists from the Region of Pugl...

For none of the prison administrations European Union, the relationship between parents and children prisoners is a priority. Yet all fit this theme in their work agendas. All argue that the issue of childhood needs to be addressed. And that's good, is progress. But between making this issue a subject of reflection, and make it a priority in the ch...

In Forensic field the use of tools that enable the identification of cases in which there is an accentuation or minimization of psychopathology for defensive or instrumental reasons, which could also make the assessment not valid, undoubtedly provides a significant contribution to ascertain the validity of the results and the credibility of the sub...

Safety and well-being of health-care workers is a topic of current scientific debate. Available evidence shows that mental-health professionals are among those with the highest risk of being subject to violence in the workplace; they are also at risk of stalking, Burn-out and work-related stress. The Authors provide a comprehensive review of the sc...

Born within the project "Cuore oltre le sbarre", funded under the Special and Innovative Projects by "Fondazione CON IL SUD", with the collaboration of various institutions and public and private agencies coordinated by the lead partner Sportello ELP a.p.s., aimed at the socio-medical support of families and children of inmates at the Prison of Tur...

This pilot study is the starting point of a potentially broad research project aimed at identifying new strategies for assessing malingering during forensic evaluations. The forensic group was comprised of 67 males who were seeking some sort of certification (e.g., adoption, child custody, driver's license, issuance of gun permits, etc.); the nonfo...

The aim of the study is to analyze from a criminological perspective a peculiar case of deviance: that perpetrated by homeless people, defined as "an individuals in a condition of material and immaterial poverty, carrying a complex, dynamic and multiform kind of discomfort". In collaboration with the Division of the Railway Police of the Regions of...

Purpose: in the literature, the term ‘Internet crime’ has been coined to indicate the scenario in which a victim of homicide or other crimes is met through a chat room, and lured to death at the hands of the murderer. Various criticisms have been made of this new concept, on the grounds that the outcome is no different from that of other crimes com...

A homeless person may be defined as "a person in a state of tangible and intangible poverty, bearer of complex, dynamic, and multiform hardships" The study presented here was carried out in collaboration with the Italian Railway Police, from a criminological perspective, and focuses on homeless perpetrators and victims of crime. As of the writing o...

The authors address the issue of the size of psychopathy, focusing their interest only to the feminine world, in its various forms psychological, psychopathological, behavioral, clinical, patoplastiche, diagnostic and in treatment. Recalling the research on the subject, the authors report the specificity of psychopathy in female and differences com...

Purpose: A large number of studies support the hypothesis that there is a correlation between serious mental illness and violent behavior. Given this premise, which is also confirmed by the present investigation, the authors focused on the various modalities of violent behaviors (directed against other persons, directed against objects, and self-di...

Matricide is one of the rarest of reported murders and has always been considered one of the most abhorrent crimes. Psychiatric investigations as to why a son might murder his mother yield indications of a high rate of mental illness, primarily psychotic disorders, in perpetrators. In an attempt to gain an in-depth understanding of the role of the...

An ample volume of research evidence supports the conclusion that severe mental illness is correlated with violent behavior. While episodes of violent behavior are included in medical notes, not all episodes of violent behavior are officially reported to the police, even when they are actual crimes. We conducted a retrospective study on the already...

In forensic-psychiatric evaluations on a minor presumed victim of sexual abuse, one may come across "false positives" and "false negatives". The aim of this study was to examine the phenomenon of false sexual abuse as revenge by one ex-partner against the other, and to offer recommendations about how to avoid this risk. The authors examined 75 tech...

In 2006, the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) conducted a survey over the entire national territory of women victims of sexual, physical, and psychologic violence, a few years after the first survey, conducted in 2002. For the 2002 survey, respondents were 60,000 women, 22,759 of whom were aged 14–59 years. For the 2006 survey, the...

Background Violent behavior has frequently been reported in cases of Capgras' delusion, a misidentification syndrome characterized by the false belief that imposters have replaced people familiar to the individual. Aims To better understand the relationship between Capgras' syndrome and violence. Method After a brief overview of the scientific kn...

Folie à deux is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by the transference of delusional ideas from one person to one or more other people in close association with the primary affected patient. Mummification indicates the preservation of the corpse of a person for a variable period of time. A brief review of the literature in this field is present...

Scientific research about the biological basis of aggressive and criminal behaviors performed in the last few decades could change modern criminology. Functional and structural neuroimaging overall suggests that decreased prefrontal activity and increased subcortical activity may predispose individuals to violence. At a molecular level, dopamine an...

The aim of this study is to identify protective and risk factors related to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on a sample of survivors from a single plane crash. Eighteen survivors were examined 6 months following the event. The subjects all underwent psychiatric interviews, Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale structured intervi...

The aim of this review was to study "female stalking" in the sense of the specific traits characterizing the phenomenon of stalking behaviour committed by women. The main medical databases were searched (Medline, Social Science Research Network, Apa Psyc Net), and 67 articles were selected, reporting studies conducted in clinical populations, case...

Aim: To investigate the influence of various factors on the ability of primary school children (aged 6-9 years) to refer an event that occurred during their life. Materials and methods: The factors analyzed were: the time since the event occurred; the role the child had in the event; the type of questions asked to elicit the account. Results:...

The authors analyze a rare case of female same gender stalking that came to their observation as forensic psychiatry experts. Despite previously only heterosexual experiences, the woman, who was 30 in 2002, had three intimate same gender relationships in succession from 2002 to 2009: she broke off with each woman in order to take up with another. W...