Violence against people with mental disorders

Abstract

Research on the relationship between mental disorders and violence has usually focused on violent acts committed by individuals diagnosed with a mental disorders. However, in last years, the investigation of people with disorders as victims of violence, has become the focus of a growing interest as well. This paper presents an update on the issue of violence against the mentally ill, by addressing the following aspects: An historical overview on violence and punishments in the origin of psychiatry, the violence against patients in modern psychiatric settings and the victimization in the community of people with mental disorders. Data show that rates of perpetration of violence among the mentally ill are much lower than rates of victimization. The latter, therefore, should be a greater public health concern. It is necessary to raise the awareness of professionals and the lay public of the fact that mentally ill are much more a vulnerable than a dangerous social group. A change in attitude in this direction could have a deep impact on practice of mental health care and on social consideration of the needs of people with mental disorders.