Serious Violence by People With Mental Illness: National Clinical Survey
Abstract
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of mental disorder in offenders convicted of serious violence, examine their social and clinical characteristics, and compare them with patients convicted of homicide. We examined a national clinical survey of all people convicted of serious violence in England and Wales in 2004. Mental disorder was measured by contact with mental health services within 12 months of the offense. Of the 5,966 serious violent offenders, 293 (5%) had been in recent contact with mental health services. Personality disorder (63, 22%) and schizophrenia (55, 19%) were the most common diagnoses. Most had previous convictions for violence (168, 61%). Seventy-two (25%) patients were at high risk of violence and 34 (49%) were not subject to the Care Programme Approach. Compared with serious violence offenders, homicide offenders were more likely to have been patients (293, 5% vs. 65, 10%; p < .01). We conclude that patients were responsible for a small proportion of serious violent offenses; however, high-risk patients require closer supervision, and regular inquiry about changing delusional beliefs, thoughts of violence, and weapon carriage.
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The overwhelming majority of people in the population presenting a risk to others do not have a mental disorder.
“The overwhelming majority of people in the population presenting a risk to others do not have a mental disorder.”
From Ethical challenges in contemporary psychiatry: an overview and an appraisal of possible strategies and research needs (2024) · cites this paper as [54]
People with a mental disorder account for only a very low proportion of serious violence.
“People with a mental disorder account for only a very low proportion of cases of serious violence 54,55 .”
From Ethical challenges in contemporary psychiatry: an overview and an appraisal of possible strategies and research needs (2024) · cites this paper as [54]
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- Authors
- Flynn, S., Rodway, C., Appleby, L., & Shaw, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Venue
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-12-05
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1438-1458
- ISSN
- 0886-2605 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-6518
- OpenAlex
- W2133224688
- Semantic Scholar
- 4813342682882ba0477fc226021b2c946024c5b3
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7
- FWCI
- 4.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Interpersonal Violence (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- University of Manchester
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Law and Policy
- Keywords
- serious violence, mental illness, violent offenders, homicide, personality disorders, schizophrenia, mental health service contact, Care Programme Approach, high-risk offenders, delusional disorder, England and Wales
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Mental Disorders, Female, Homicide, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Violence, Young Adult
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