Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Mental illness, crime, and violence: risk, context, and social control
- Author:
- MARKOWITZ Fred E.
- Journal article citation:
- Aggression and Violent Behavior, 16(1), January 2011, pp.36-44.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This article reviews perceptions, realities and processes relating to the relationship between mental illness, crime, and violence. It begins by discussing how deinstitutionalisation has led to an overrepresentation of persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system, with persons being retained in jails and prisons rather than hospitals. The article then compares public perceptions of dangerousness associated with mental illness with individual-level studies that assess the risk of violence and criminal behaviour among those with mental illness. Public perceptions of the risk of violence associated with mental illness are shown to be overstated but not unfounded. The article then reviews key findings as to the role of certain psychotic symptoms, social demographic characteristics, and the context in which violence unfolds. Finally, the article discusses recent legal and social policy initiatives related to managing persons with mental illness who violate the law. High quality, well-coordinated community mental health services that focus on both symptom reduction and socioeconomic well-being may reduce the number of mentally ill person who end up in jails and prisons. However, the article argues that such efforts are likely to be limited in their scope and effectiveness relative to the scale of the problem.
Correlates of crime and violence among persons with mental disorder: an evidence-based review
- Author:
- SIROTICH Frank
- Journal article citation:
- Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 8(2), May 2008, pp.171-194.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article reviews the research literature on the correlates of crime and violence among people with mental disorder. The review examines the empirical evidence from a number of different disciplines - criminology, psychiatry, psychology, and social work. To facilitate this review, the literature is organized into 4 sections that encompass research on variables that fall into one of the following four domains: demographic variables, historical variables, clinical variables, and contextual variables. It summarizes current knowledge on the sources of criminal and violent behaviour and attempts to reconcile disparities across studies by taking into account methodological differences and by considering the potential role of confounding factors that require attention in future research.
Facing up to our responsibilities
- Author:
- MULLEN Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 29(7), July 2005, pp.248-249.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
Despite the drafters’ best intentions, the proposed Mental Health Act is unlikely to advance the agenda of community safety. The response however, not be a rejection of the understandable, and politically unavoidable, drive for better management of the risks of violence to others. The response should be to use the evidence base concerning the association between mental disorders and violence to inform both public policy and mental health practice. A greater willingness to accept and respond to the general public’s fears of violent behaviour in the mentally ill may produce a political climate more receptive to our advocacy for better services and a greater sensitivity to the rights of our patients. It is particularly important that it is made clear that the best way of reducing criminal behaviour among the seriously mentally ill is neither institutionalisation nor compulsory community treatment orders, but improved services that focus on symptom control, support, appropriate accommodation, behavioural and cognitive therapies and active social and economic rehabilitation.
Assaultive behaviour in state psychiatric hospitals: differences between forensic and nonforensic patients
- Authors:
- LINHORST Donald M., SCOTT Lisa Parker
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(8), August 2004, pp.857-874.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Forensic patients are occupying an increasingly large number of beds in state psychiatric hospitals. The presence of these mentally ill offenders has raised concerns about the risk they present to nonforensic patients. This study compared the rate of assaults and factors associated with assaultive behavior among 308 nonforensic patients and two groups of forensic patients including 469 patients found not guilty by reason of insanity and 76 pretrial patients. Consistent with other studies, nonforensic patients had higher rates of assaults than either group of forensic patients. However, being a forensic patient did not affect the odds of assault when controlling for the effects of demographic and clinical variables in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Factors associated with assaults in each of the three patient groups were identified using multivariate analyses. Implications are presented for treatment of assaultive behavior, mixing of forensic and nonforensic patients within state hospitals, forensic release policies, and future research.
The link between mental health problems and violence behaviour
- Author:
- GREGORY Nathan
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 6.4.04, 2004, pp.34-36.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Reviews literature on mental illness and violence with the aim of clarifying whether there is a link between the two. Concludes that while higher rates of violence have been found among people with mental illness, most studies have flaws and their results should be viewed with caution. Calls for the development of preventative strategies by providing appropriate support for people with mental health problems.
Mental health
- Author:
- RYAN Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Research Matters, 1999, pp.6-8.
- Publisher:
- Community Care
This review summarises recent research in two areas: risk factors associated with violence in clients with long term illness and an overview of some recent studies evaluating the efficacy of psychosocial rehabilitation. This latter study is one of the relatively few that focuses specifically on the needs of black users.
Hidden danger
- Author:
- LINEHAN Tim
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 21.2.96, 1996, pp.16-17.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
As three former psychiatric care patients who were released into the community start prison sentences for having committed acts of violence, examines the dilemma faced by regional mental health services trying to balance patients' rights against public protection.
Violent offender treatment in a medium secure unit
- Authors:
- HOWDEN Sharon, MIDGLEYJayde, HARGATE Rebecca
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Practice, 20(2), 2018, pp.102-111.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to conduct a preliminary evaluation of a Violent Offender Treatment Program (VOTP) adapted for use in a medium secure unit (MSU). The patient population is adult male mentally disordered offenders. Design/methodology/approach: Patient outcomes are explored using the Reliable Change Index and Clinical Significance Criterion. Outcomes are assessed using VOTP facilitators violence risk assessment (VRS), multi-disciplinary team violence risk assessment (HCR-20 and GAS-V), and patient self-report using two measures (FAVT and STAXI-2). Findings: There was evidence of improved outcomes for some participants in some areas related to risk of violence. Research limitations/implications: Consideration is given to using varied risk assessments to evaluate outcomes of an adapted VOTP for a MSU. Originality/value: There is limited development and evaluation of psychological treatment programmes that aim to reduce risk of violence for male offenders within MSUs. Outcomes of this evaluation could influence treatment delivery and evaluation in other services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mentally disordered parricide and strange killers admitted to high-security care 2: course after release
- Authors:
- MCCARTHY Lucy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 12(3), December 2001, pp.501-514.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
When deciding to transfer a patient from a high-security care, the most important determinant will often be the likelihood of further violence. Despite this, there are surprisingly few data to inform the clinician on the risks posed by particular groups. This study compares the outcome of a group of mentally disordered offenders convicted of either parricide or the killing of a stranger after their release from high-security care. All the patients were released still subject to restriction orders under the Mental Health Act 1983. Results found none of the sample committed a further homicide during the follow-up and their history of further violence was also low. These data add further evidence to the widely held view that transfer from high-security care may be unduly restrictive.
Mental disorders and violent crime: a vexed and vexing relationship
- Author:
- PRINS Herschel
- Journal article citation:
- Prison Service Journal, 136, July 2001, pp.2-5.
- Publisher:
- Her Majesty's Prison Service of England and Wales
Discusses the complex relationships between mental disorders and violent crime together with the problems inherent in the relationships between psychiatry, psychology and the Criminal Justice System.