Search this site »

Mental Illness and Violence

Posted by Helping Psychology in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX on Sep 24, 2009

The connection between mental illness and violent crime has always been more controversial than portrayed in the mainstream media. People with mental illnesses are often unfairly depicted on television and in the movies as being capable and willing to commit violent crimes if only casually provoked.

However, a recent study published in February of 2009 in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that people with mental illnesses are only more likely to commit an act of violence if they have a concurrent drug or alcohol problem. A history of severe mental illness alone is not predictive of future uncontrollable behavior. Patients with a dual diagnosis of both a severe mental problem and a substance dependence problem were more than ten times likely to commit a crime, than a person who has a severe mental disability but no history of substance abuse.

However, people who have a mental disorders are more likely to also possess a variety of demographic factors which have been shown to predict a future episode of violence, which include physical abuse or having witnessed parental fighting, unemployment, or lower socioeconomic status. Because people with mental illnesses are more likely to have one of these risk factors for violent behavior, a person with such a disorder may be at higher risk for committing a violent crime.

However, when one considers the entire biopsychosocial model of mental illness, a person who has recently developed a mental disorder may have other stresses in their life besides the disorder. For some, a diagnosis of a severe mental problem may mean the loss of a job and a decreased socioeconomic status. Many people diagnosed with a severe mental illness also turn to alcohol and recreational drugs in an attempt to help themselves cope, described as "self-medication" by some mental health professionals. For these reasons a person with a severe mental problem is at risk for accumulating other issues which may later predispose them to commit a violent act.

The theory of a link between violent crime and mental illness is controversial due to the need to protect a patient's civil rights, but also attempt to make sure that patients with severe mental illnesses are not a threat to society. Patients who are acutely psychotic may be hospitalized against their will to protect themselves and others, and be forced to take psychiatric medication such as antipsychotic drugs during their hospitalization.

However, should a person who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, but does not have any other risk factors for violent behavior, be characterized as a potential risk to others based on their diagnosis? According to this new research, a diagnosis of mental illness does not predict violent behavior.

However, given that substance abuse is a multiplying factor which can make a person with a severe mental illness more likely to commit a violent act than a general member of the population, perhaps people with mental disorders should be treated more aggressively for substance abuse. People who suffer from both substance addiction as well as a severe mental illness often require repeated psychiatric hospitalizations, and may require more intensive treatment than people who have a substance addiction but no mental problem. Targeting resources towards helping people with both substance addiction as well as mental illness may be the most effective way to prevent violent behavior.

This article is brought to you by Argosy University,a leader in psychology education.