Bipolar Disorder and Violent Crime

Abstract

Although current guidelines for the management of individuals with bipolar disorder do not recommend routine risk assessment for violence, this assertion may need review in patients with comorbid substance abuse.

Violence and violent victimization in people with severe mental illness in a rural low-income country setting: A comparative cross-sectional community study

“…The higher prevalence of violence among people with SMI compared to the unaffected comparison group in our study is consistent with findings from high-income countries (Elbogen and Johnson, 2009;Fazel et al, 2009a;Fazel et al, 2009b;Fazel et al, 2010;Short et al, 2013;Swanson et al, 1990;Swanson et al, 2006). However, in contrast to some of the high-income country studies (Elbogen and Johnson, 2009;Fazel et al, 2009a;Fazel et al, 2009b;Fazel et al, 2010;Swartz et al, 1998), SMI remained associated independently with lifetime violence after adjusting for a range of potential confounding factors.…”

“…However, in contrast to some of the high-income country studies (Elbogen and Johnson, 2009;Fazel et al, 2009a;Fazel et al, 2009b;Fazel et al, 2010;Swartz et al, 1998), SMI remained associated independently with lifetime violence after adjusting for a range of potential confounding factors. In this rural Ethiopian setting, the excess risk of violence among people with SMI does not appear to be explained by co-morbid substance misuse, although we were unable to investigate any effect of co-morbid personality disorder.…”

“…Violence perpetrated by people with severe mental illness (SMI: including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders) has been the subject of research in high-income countries for decades (Elbogen and Johnson, 2009;Fazel et al, 2009a;Fazel et al, 2009b;Fazel et al, 2010;Swanson et al, 1990;Torrey, 1994;Vinokur et al, 2013). In high-income country settings, the presence of SMI is associated consistently with an increased risk of violence, although the extent to which this excess risk is explained by co-morbid substance misuse continues to be debated (Choe et al, 2008;Fazel et al, 2009a;Fazel et al, 2009b;Fazel et al, 2010;Short et al, 2013).…”

“…In high-income country settings, the presence of SMI is associated consistently with an increased risk of violence, although the extent to which this excess risk is explained by co-morbid substance misuse continues to be debated (Choe et al, 2008;Fazel et al, 2009a;Fazel et al, 2009b;Fazel et al, 2010;Short et al, 2013). The problem of violence carried out by people with SMI is often the focus of the public's attention in high-income countries; however, people with mental illness are more frequently the victims of violence ('violent victimization') than the general population (Hodgins et al, 2007;Maniglio, 2009;Sturup et al, 2011;Teplin et al, 2005;Walsh et al, 2003).…”

Psychotic Symptoms and Prior Use of Psychiatric Services in Psychotic Offenders Detained Under the Dutch Entrustment Act (TBS): An Exploratory Study

“…Psychotic symptoms are treatable, and therefore violence caused by psychotic symptoms ought to be preventable. Recent studies suggested a mediating effect of substance abuse (Fazel et al, 2009a(Fazel et al, , 2009b. Fazel et al (2009a) even stated that the risk in psychotic patients with substance abuse comorbidity is similar to that for substance abuse without psychosis.…”