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Depressive illness and aggression in Belfast.

H A Lyons

    British Medical Journal
    |February 5, 1972
    PubMed
    Summary

    During the 1969-70 Belfast riots, depressive illness significantly decreased, especially in riot-affected areas, while aggressive behaviors and violent crimes increased, suggesting a link between externalizing aggression and reduced depression.

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    Area of Science:

    • Psychiatry
    • Sociology
    • Criminology

    Background:

    • A hypothesized inverse relationship exists between depressive illness incidence and opportunities for externalizing aggressive behavior.
    • The 1969-70 Belfast riots offered a unique context to investigate this hypothesis.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine the impact of a large-scale social upheaval on the incidence of depressive illness.
    • To explore the relationship between externalized aggression and mental health outcomes during civil unrest.

    Main Methods:

    • Comparative analysis of depressive illness rates in Belfast (during riots) versus a neighboring rural county (peaceful).
    • Data collection included age, sex, geographic area within the city, and depression type.
    • Aggressive behavior data was collected concurrently.

    Main Results:

    • A significant decrease in depressive illness was observed across all demographics in Belfast, particularly in riot-affected areas and lower social groups (IV and V).
    • Suicide rates dropped by nearly 50%, while homicide and violent crime rates increased.
    • The control rural county experienced a rise in male depressives.

    Conclusions:

    • The study supports the hypothesis of an inverse relationship between opportunities for externalizing aggressive behavior and the incidence of depressive illness.
    • Large-scale social conflict and aggression may temporarily reduce depression rates but increase violent crime.
    • Further research is needed to understand the long-term mental health consequences.

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