Violence in society

doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7363.507

BMJ 2002;325:507-508 ( 7 September )

Editorials

Violence in society

Contribution of mental illness is low

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

As increasing numbers of mentally ill patients have been treated and reside in the community, public concern about their potentialfor violence has increased. Fear and stigma of mentally ill peoplehave been exaggerated by high profile and occasionally sensationalistreporting of rare, albeit tragic, violent acts.¹

Are people with mental illness more violent than other people? An influential German study published in 1973 led to the beliefthat people with mental disorder were no more likely to be violentthan the general population.² This view remained unchallengeduntil the late 1980s. The best epidemiological data on violenceand mental disorder come from the American ECA (epidemiologiccatchment area) study.³ Self reported violence in the pastyear was measured among a representative community sample of 10059 individuals. The prevalence of violence in people with nopsychiatric disorder was 2%, and it was much higher in young men.Violence was reported . . . [Full text of this article]

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