MENTAL ILLNESS AS A CAUSE OF VIOLENCE

A review of the literature reveals, that many initial studies were characterized by methodological weaknesses. Conclusions were based on limited samples, a lack of comparison groups, weak criterion variables, limited data substantiation, and inadequate operational definitions; results may not generalize to the general population. However, consistent findings are notable and worthy of further consideration. More recent studies have included larger sample sizes and comparison groups; these results help qualify the relationship between mental illness and violence (Hodgins, 1992).

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ffenses such as drunk driving, robbery, and murder. The prevalence of MPD is not known and many patients with MPD may receive other diagnoses such as schizophrenia or psychomotor seizures, since symptoms are similar. MPD men who commit violent acts, with no memory, may be considered as antisocial. Between 10 and 70 percent of violent offenders claim amnesia for their crimes; this may by a clue to a diagnosis of MPD. Hearing voices or hallucinatory experiences may be due to MPD, rather than schizophrenia; dissociative states and temporal lobe abnormalities are also not uncommon in MPD. Mental illness appears thus far to be associated with violence, however the existence of additional factors to consider is also noted. The size and composition of a social network, as well as the characteristics of the social support received, may effect violence potential. Estroff, Zimmer, Lachicotte, and Benoit (1994) studied a group of 169 respondents with serious mental illness and 59 of their significant others, over an 18-month period. Fifty-six respondents either threatened violence or committed a violent act during the study. Respondents diagnosed as schizophrenia were found to be more likely to commit violent acts but were not more l
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 3029
Approximate Pages = 12 (250 words per page)

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