Relationship of Mental Disorder to Violent Behavior

• NCJ Number: 114986
• Author(s): J J Collins; S L Bailey; C D Phillips; A Craddock
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 86-IJ-CX-0034
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Research Triangle Institute
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Information about males recently incarcerated in a State correctional system as a result of a serious offense formed the basis of an analysis of the relationship between violent behavior and mental disorders.

Abstract

The research used the diagnostic categories of the American Psychiatric Association, together with violent behavior indicated in self-reports of arrest and fighting, police records of arrest, and incarceration records. Violence was classified as expressive or instrumental. Multivariate methodologies were used to control for age and other sources of variation. Findings challenge the common view that mental disorders and crime vary independently of one another. Instead, the results suggested a relationship between violence and some disorders and disorder symptoms. However, mental disorder did not appear to be a major factor accounting for the level of interpersonal violence in society. Disorder or disorder symptoms are sometimes important risk factors for violence, but issues related to mental disorders should not direct public policies aimed at controlling violence. Finally, public concern that current or former mental patients account for a disproportionate amount of interpersonal violence exaggerates the risk. Table and 2 references.