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Mental disorder, violence, and gender.
Pamela Clark Robbins1, John Monahan, Eric Silver
1Policy Research Associates, Inc., Delmar, New York, USA. probbins@prainc.com
Law and Human Behavior
|January 17, 2004
Summary
Violence rates over one year were similar for men and women with mental disorders. However, gender influenced the context, severity, and targets of violence, impacting clinical risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Criminology
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Recent research indicates similar violence rates between genders in individuals with mental disorders.
- This finding poses challenges for accurate clinical risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between gender and violence in individuals with mental disorders.
- To analyze differences in the context, severity, and outcomes of violence between men and women.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study.
- Interviewed patients in acute psychiatric wards five times over one year post-discharge.
- Analyzed demographic and situational factors associated with violent acts.
Main Results:
- Men exhibited higher rates of immediate post-discharge violence, but 1-year prevalence was similar for both genders.
- Significant gender disparities were observed in the situational context of violence.
- Men were more prone to substance use and medication non-adherence before violence; their violence caused more severe injuries and arrests.
- Women were more likely to target family members and commit violence within the home.
Conclusions:
- While overall 1-year violence prevalence is comparable, gender significantly shapes the characteristics and circumstances of violence in individuals with mental disorders.
- These gender-specific patterns are crucial for refining clinical risk assessment and intervention strategies.