Within the scope of the discussion on the treatment of forensical psychiatric patients in General Health Care research was done into criminal offences involving the death of the victim, which were committed in General Psychiatric Hospitals. Aim was to collect epidemiological data (incidence, the perpetrators' characteristics, indications to possibly violent offences). During the period of 1988-1998 a total of 10 homicides were committed in Dutch General Psychiatric Hospitals. The incidence of homicides committed by hospitalised patients proved to be higher than the incidence of homicides among the general population. Seven perpetrators suffered from a psychotic disorder (mainly schizophrenia), two perpetrators were flourishingly psychotic at the time of the offence. Only one offence showed a provoking factor.