All patients admitted to a maximum security hospital (MSH) from January 1, 1980, through June 30, 1980, were screened for possible inclusion in the sample. All murder defendants (25) and battery defendants (56) not charged with rape in connection with their offenses were included in the study. The researchers had no doubt that all the defendants had committed the charged offenses. Three standardized instruments were administered to all willing subjects: the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, and the Holmes and Rahe Life Stress instrument. Two other instruments were designed for the study: the Accused Assaultist Social History Form and the Accused Assaultist Psychiatric History Form. Using these data, this preliminary report summarizes findings on offender demographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, stressful life events preceding the offense, hostility scores, sexual deviance, childhood predictors, psychiatric and criminal histories, signs and symptoms preceding the offense, help-seeking prior to the offense, suicidal tendencies, drug use at the time of the offense, offense location, weapon used, and victim characteristics. Expected study products are briefly described. 4 references.