Violence towards people with mental illness: Assessment, risk factors, and management

Vishal Bhavsar*, Dinesh Bhugra

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aim: Violence is an important problem for clinicians, for public health, and for victims. Aside from greater risk of perpetrating violence, people with mental illness are also more commonly victimized than the general population. However, guidance on the assessment and management of violent victimization in clinical settings is limited. Methods: We carried out a review and consolidation of clinical and research literature on violent victimization in people with mental illness. Results: Assessment of mental state in someone who has been victimized should evaluate both historical factors (such as pattern, timing, perpetrator characteristics, and contextual factors) and clinical factors (including affective and cognitive changes). Conclusion: Concerted clinical and policy attention to factors that might increase vulnerability, such as alcohol use, lack of support, and the social environment, could improve outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)811-820
Number of pages10
JournalPsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
Volume72
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2018

Keywords

  • clinical psychopathology
  • epidemiology and public health
  • forensic psychiatry
  • public policy and psychiatry

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