Systematic Review of Mental Health Problems and Violent Extremism

Abstract

A wide range of studies investigating the nature and determinants of radicalisation, and terrorist-related behaviour exist. These, in turn, have influenced theory, policy and practice in areas concerned with violent extremism prevention, disruption and management. As such interventions become more common, debates rage within mental health professions about the role mental health practitioners should play in countering violent extremism. This systematic review assesses the impact of mental health problems upon attitudes, intentions and behaviours in the context of radicalisation and terrorism. We identified 25 studies that measured rates of mental health problems across 28 samples. The prevalence rates are heterogenous and range from 0% to 57%. If we pool the results of those samples (n=19) purely focused upon confirmed diagnoses where sample sizes are known (n=1705 subjects), the results suggest a rate of 14.4% with a confirmed diagnosis. Where studies relied upon wholly, or in some form, upon privileged access to police or judicial data, diagnoses occurred 16.96% of the time (n=283 subjects). Where studies were purely focused upon open sources (n=1089 subjects), diagnoses were present 9.82% of the time. We then explore (a) the types and rates of mental health disorders identified (b) comparison/control group studies (c) studies that explore causal roles of mental health problems and (d) other complex needs.

Armed and Explosive? An Explorative Statistical Analysis of Extremist Radicalization Cases with Military Background

“…Indeed, it appears that Simi et al's hypothesis of identity discrepancies following failed role adjustments within the military, or after transition into civilian life, might hold some empirical value, since the majority (77,2 percent) of the sample were retired from military duty when they radicalized. In general, many theories of radicalization that strongly focus on grievances, 58 mental health issues, 59 or ostracism, 60 as the driving factors appear to help explain the significance of these variables among our group of far-right military background cases. Naturally, military service, especially when it involves deployment to an active combat situation, includes numerous intense physical and psychological risks and strains.…”

“…44 Specifically, a landmark systematic literature review by Gill et al identified a wide array of mental health issues found among extremists and terrorists, among which trauma and substance abuse induced disorders are prevalent. 45 Especially relevant to the potential mental health impact of deployment is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 46 Recent research argued that this condition itself cannot be counted as a risk factor for radicalization, but interacts with other influences, and might facilitate that process once it has begun.…”

“…Based on the literature available on both military personnel radicalization and extremist radicalization, there are sufficient grounds to hypothesize that mental health issues (e.g., trauma, substance abuse) suffered or developed by soldiers during military service, and the grievances and alienation from the previously served nation in some kind of political context might play a major role in this process. As such, we aim to explore how social and psychological risk factors, as (among others) presented by Gill et al 48 and Gøtzsche-Astrup, 49 differ among extremists who may or may not have a military background. More importantly, our exploratory analysis does not aim to produce generalizable results or causal evidence for the specific vulnerability factors we identify.…”

Radicalization to Violence: A View from Cultural Psychiatry

“…In terms of motivations, studies of members of organized terrorist groups or militant extremists suggest that most individuals do not have psychiatric disorders (Trimbur et al, 2021); however, mental illness does play a role in 'lone actors' who are not tied to a network or community (Gill et al, 2021;Silver et al, 2019). People who become radicalized may share common vulnerabilities that are intensified by events and mobilized by social forces.…”

What makes a terrorist? Muslims’ and non-Muslims’ lay perceptions of risk factors and their consequences for counter-terrorism policy support

“…Finally, terrorism is often attributed to individual psychopathologies (Lankford, 2014;Laqueur, 2003) such as psychopathy (e.g., Cooper, 1978;Pearce, 1977;Post, 1987), and personality disorders (Johnson & Feldmann, 1992;Pearlstein, 1991). Yet, although often intuitive, the importance of psychopathology has been questioned (Gill et al, 2021).…”