The SocialEnvironmental Context of Violent Behavior in Persons Treated for Severe Mental Illness
Jeffrey W. Swanson, PhD,
Marvin S. Swartz, MD,
Susan M. Essock, PhD,
Fred C. Osher, MD,
H. Ryan Wagner, PhD,
Lisa A. Goodman, PhD,
Stanley D. Rosenberg, PhD and
Keith G. Meador, MD
Jeffrey W. Swanson, Marvin S. Swartz, and H . Ryan Wagner are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Susan M. Essock is with the Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Veterans Affairs New York Healthcare System, New York, NY. Fred C. Osher is with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore. Lisa A. Goodman is with the Department of Psychology, Boston College, Boston, Mass, and the Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park. Stanley D. Rosenberg is with the Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH. Keith G. Meador is with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, and Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Jeffrey W. Swanson, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3071, 905 W Main St, Suite 23A, Durham, NC 27710 (e-mail: jeffrey.swanson{at}duke.edu).
Objectives. This study examined the prevalence and correlatesof violent behavior by individuals with severe mental illness.
Methods. Participants (N = 802) were adults with psychotic ormajor mood disorders receiving inpatient or outpatient servicesin public mental health systems in 4 states.
Results. The 1-year prevalence of serious assaultive behaviorwas 13%. Three variablespast violent victimization, violencein the surrounding environment, and substance abuseshoweda cumulative association with risk of violent behavior.
Conclusions. Violence among individuals with severe mental illnessis related to multiple variables with compounded effects overthe life span. Interventions to reduce the risk of violenceneed to be targeted to specific subgroups with different clustersof problems related to violent behavior.
This article has been cited by other articles:
E. B. Elbogen and S. C. Johnson The Intricate Link Between Violence and Mental Disorder: Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
February 1, 2009;
66(2):
152 - 161.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. W. Swanson, M. S. Swartz, R. A. Van Dorn, J. Volavka, J. Monahan, T. S. Stroup, J. P. McEvoy, H. R. Wagner, E. B. Elbogen, J. A. Lieberman, et al. Comparison of antipsychotic medication effects on reducing violence in people with schizophrenia
The British Journal of Psychiatry,
July 1, 2008;
193(1):
37 - 43.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
E. F. Torrey and J. Stanley Revisiting the MacArthur Study: Reply
Psychiatr Serv,
April 1, 2008;
59(4):
445 - 446.
[Full Text][PDF]
J. C. Matejkowski, S. W. Cullen, and P. L. Solomon Characteristics of Persons With Severe Mental Illness Who Have Been Incarcerated for Murder
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law,
March 1, 2008;
36(1):
74 - 86.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
E. F. Torrey, J. Stanley, J. Monahan, H. J. Steadman, and MacArthur Study Group The MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study Revisited: Two Views Ten Years After Its Initial Publication
Psychiatr Serv,
February 1, 2008;
59(2):
147 - 152.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. Y. Choe, L. A. Teplin, and K. M. Abram Perpetration of Violence, Violent Victimization, and Severe Mental Illness: Balancing Public Health Concerns
Psychiatr Serv,
February 1, 2008;
59(2):
153 - 164.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. W. Swanson Preventing the Unpredicted: Managing Violence Risk in Mental Health Care
Psychiatr Serv,
February 1, 2008;
59(2):
191 - 193.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. S. Lamberti Understanding and Preventing Criminal Recidivism Among Adults With Psychotic Disorders
Psychiatr Serv,
June 1, 2007;
58(6):
773 - 781.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
E. B. Elbogen, S. Mustillo, R. van Dorn, J. W. Swanson, and M. S. Swartz The Impact of Perceived Need for Treatment on Risk of Arrest and Violence Among People With Severe Mental Illness
Criminal Justice and Behavior,
February 1, 2007;
34(2):
197 - 210.
[Abstract][PDF]
R. Persaud Violence and psychiatric morbidity
The British Journal of Psychiatry,
February 1, 2007;
190(2):
177 - 177.
[Full Text][PDF]
R. A. Friedman Violence and Mental Illness -- How Strong is the Link?
N. Engl. J. Med.,
November 16, 2006;
355(20):
2064 - 2066.
[Full Text][PDF]
J. W. Swanson, R. A. Van Dorn, J. Monahan, and M. S. Swartz Violence and Leveraged Community Treatment for Persons With Mental Disorders
Am J Psychiatry,
August 1, 2006;
163(8):
1404 - 1411.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. R Muroff, S. L Hoerauf, and S. Y H Kim Is Psychiatric Research Stigmatized? An Experimental Survey of the Public
Schizophr Bull,
January 1, 2006;
32(1):
129 - 136.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
E. Silver, L. Arseneault, J. Langley, A. Caspi, and T. E. Moffitt Mental Disorder and Violent Victimization in a Total Birth Cohort
Am J Public Health,
November 1, 2005;
95(11):
2015 - 2021.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
A. G. Crocker, K. T. Mueser, R. E. Drake, R. E. Clark, G. J. Mchugo, T. H. Ackerson, and A. I. Alterman Antisocial Personality, Psychopathy, and Violence in Persons with Dual Disorders: A Longitudinal Analysis
Criminal Justice and Behavior,
August 1, 2005;
32(4):
452 - 476.
[Abstract][PDF]
L. A. Teplin, G. M. McClelland, K. M. Abram, and D. A. Weiner Crime Victimization in Adults With Severe Mental Illness: Comparison With the National Crime Victimization Survey
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
August 1, 2005;
62(8):
911 - 921.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
J. Thomas, G. K. Gourley, and N. Mele The Availability of Behavioral Health Services for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association,
June 1, 2005;
11(3):
156 - 163.
[Abstract][PDF]
C. L. M. Caton, R. E. Drake, D. S. Hasin, B. Dominguez, P. E. Shrout, S. Samet, and W. B. Schanzer Differences Between Early-Phase Primary Psychotic Disorders With Concurrent Substance Use and Substance-Induced Psychoses
Arch Gen Psychiatry,
February 1, 2005;
62(2):
137 - 145.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
P. L. Solomon, M. M. Cavanaugh, and R. J. Gelles Family Violence among Adults with Severe Mental Illness: A Neglected Area of Research
Trauma Violence Abuse,
January 1, 2005;
6(1):
40 - 54.
[Abstract][PDF]
J. S. Lamberti, R. Weisman, and D. I. Faden Forensic Assertive Community Treatment: Preventing Incarceration of Adults With Severe Mental Illness
Psychiatr Serv,
November 1, 2004;
55(11):
1285 - 1293.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
N. Wolff, T. Maschi, and J. R. Bjerklie Profiling Mentally Disordered Prison Inmates: A Case Study in New Jersey
Journal of Correctional Health Care,
January 1, 2004;
11(1):
5 - 29.
[Abstract][PDF]
E. F. Torrey Mandated Psychiatric Treatment
Health Aff.,
November 1, 2003;
22(6):
280 - 280.
[Full Text][PDF]