Premium
Violence towards people with mental illness: Assessment, risk factors, and management
Author(s) -
Bhavsar Vishal,
Bhugra Dinesh
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12775
Subject(s) - mental illness , psychiatry , psychology , vulnerability (computing) , mental health , poison control , suicide prevention , population , injury prevention , human factors and ergonomics , clinical psychology , medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , computer security , computer science
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.