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The role of mental disorder in attacks on European politicians 1990–2004
Abstract
Objective: The only systematic studies of attacks on public figures come from the USA. These studies de‐emphasize the role of mental illness and suggest threats are of no predictive value. This study re‐examines these questions through a study of attacks on European politicians. Method: All non‐terrorist attacks on elected politicians in Western Europe between 1990 and 2004 were analysed. Results: Twenty‐four attacks were identified, including five involving fatalities, and eight serious injuries. Ten attackers were psychotic, four drunk, nine politically motivated and one unclassifiable. Eleven attackers evidenced warning behaviours. The mentally disordered, most of whom gave warnings, were responsible for most of the fatal and seriously injurious attacks. Conclusion: A greater awareness of the link between delusional fixations on public figures and subsequent attacks could aid prevention. Equally importantly, recognition would encourage earlier intervention in people who, irrespective of whether they eventually attack, have delusional preoccupations which ruin their lives.
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“The literature has for years established that individuals fixated with public figures have a very high mental health need (Barry-Walsh et al., 2020;James et al., 2007;2008;2009;2011;Meloy et al., 2008;Scalora, Baumgartner, Callaway et al., 2002;Scalora, Baumgartner, Zimmerman et al., 2002;Scalora et al., 2003;van der Meer et al., 2012).”
From Unmet needs: analysing the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre’s fulfilment of the public health approach, and its value for violence prevention (2025) · cites this paper as James et al., 2007
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Research works printed but not linked: 15
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- Fein RA, 2000, Protective intelligence threat assessment investigations: a guide for state and local law enforcement officials
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Cited by
A false dichotomy? Mental illness and lone-actor terrorism.
Corner, E., & Gill, P. (2015) · Law and Human Behavior · doi:10.1037/lhb0000102 · Cited by 362
Seaward, A., Marchment, Z., Wilson, S., Elfituri, S., Farnham, F., Plumb, T., Rose, K., Taylor, A., Corner, E., & Gill, P. (2025) · Psychology, Crime & Law · doi:10.1080/1068316x.2025.2581795 · Cited by 1
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Metadata
- Authors
- James, D. V., Mullen, P. E., Meloy, J. R., Pathé, M. T., Farnham, F. R., Preston, L., & Darnley, B.
- Venue
- Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2007-09-04
- Volume
- 116
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 334-344
- ISSN
- 0001-690X
- 1600-0447
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 0
- Language
- en
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- James, D. V., Mullen, P. E., Meloy, J. R., Pathé, M. T., Farnham, F. R., Preston, L., & Darnley, B. (2007). The role of mental disorder in attacks on European politicians 1990–2004. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01077.x
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