Introduction
According to the World Health Organization, mental illness occurs more often in developed countries than any other group of illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. Other published studies report that about 25% of all U.S. adults have a mental illness and that nearly 50% of U.S. adults will develop at least one mental illness during their lifetime (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).
There is an overwhelming amount of evidence and studies that depicts a general consensus that severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has the potential to increase incidences of violence. Violent behavior of mental ill individuals can potentially become a public health problem. Violence symbolizes aggression …show more content…
In addition, there is an overlap between the neurochemical changes found in adults with histories of traumatic stress and those found in adults with increased impulsive aggression—in particular, increased functioning of both the catecholamine system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Persons with bipolar disorder are at significantly increased risk for violence, with some history of violent behavior ranging from 9.4% to just fewer than 50%, often in the presence of comorbid diagnoses. Bipolar patients are prone to agitation that can result in impulsive aggression during manic and mixed episodes. However, depressed states can involve intense periods of agitation and irritability, which can potentially increase the possibility of violent behavior (Allison et al., …show more content…
Treatment usually involves either medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. People diagnosed with depression are roughly three times more likely than the general population to commit violent crimes such as robbery, sexual offences and assault, according to psychiatric experts. Violent crime is defined as a conviction for: murder or attempted murder; aggravated or common assault; robbery; arson; sexual offenses (including indecent exposure); and illegal threats or intimidation (Tran, 2015).
Past-year crime was experienced by 40% of patients versus 14% of controls; and violent assaults by 19% of patients versus 3% of controls. Women with severe mental illness had increased odds when it comes to experiencing domestic, community and sexual violence. Victims with severe mental illness were more likely to report psychosocial morbidity following violence than victims from the general population (Khalifeh et al., 2015).
Violence experienced by people with severe mental illness is associated with poor characteristics and functional recovery, high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and poor treatment obedience. Violence prevention is a current public health priority but little is known about whether violence against people with SMI differs substantially (in terms of nature, impact and reporting of crime) from violence against the general population (Fazel, et
According to the World Health Organization, mental illness occurs more often in developed countries than any other group of illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. Other published studies report that about 25% of all U.S. adults have a mental illness and that nearly 50% of U.S. adults will develop at least one mental illness during their lifetime (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).
There is an overwhelming amount of evidence and studies that depicts a general consensus that severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has the potential to increase incidences of violence. Violent behavior of mental ill individuals can potentially become a public health problem. Violence symbolizes aggression …show more content…
In addition, there is an overlap between the neurochemical changes found in adults with histories of traumatic stress and those found in adults with increased impulsive aggression—in particular, increased functioning of both the catecholamine system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Persons with bipolar disorder are at significantly increased risk for violence, with some history of violent behavior ranging from 9.4% to just fewer than 50%, often in the presence of comorbid diagnoses. Bipolar patients are prone to agitation that can result in impulsive aggression during manic and mixed episodes. However, depressed states can involve intense periods of agitation and irritability, which can potentially increase the possibility of violent behavior (Allison et al., …show more content…
Treatment usually involves either medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. People diagnosed with depression are roughly three times more likely than the general population to commit violent crimes such as robbery, sexual offences and assault, according to psychiatric experts. Violent crime is defined as a conviction for: murder or attempted murder; aggravated or common assault; robbery; arson; sexual offenses (including indecent exposure); and illegal threats or intimidation (Tran, 2015).
Past-year crime was experienced by 40% of patients versus 14% of controls; and violent assaults by 19% of patients versus 3% of controls. Women with severe mental illness had increased odds when it comes to experiencing domestic, community and sexual violence. Victims with severe mental illness were more likely to report psychosocial morbidity following violence than victims from the general population (Khalifeh et al., 2015).
Violence experienced by people with severe mental illness is associated with poor characteristics and functional recovery, high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and poor treatment obedience. Violence prevention is a current public health priority but little is known about whether violence against people with SMI differs substantially (in terms of nature, impact and reporting of crime) from violence against the general population (Fazel, et