Aggressive behaviour, victimization and crime among severely mentally ill patients requiring hospitalisation.
BACKGROUND
Severe mental illness is associated with increased risk of aggressive behaviour, crime and victimization. Mental health policy does not acknowledge this evidence. The number of forensic beds has risen dramatically.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of aggressive behaviour, victimization and criminality among people receiving in-patient treatment for severe mental illness in an inner-city area.


METHODS
Self-reports of aggressive behaviour and victimization and criminal records were collected for 205 in-patients with severe mental illness.


RESULTS
In the preceding 6 months 49% of the men and 39% of the women had engaged in aggressive behaviour and 57% of the men and 48% of the women had been victims of assault; 47% of the men and 17% of the women had been convicted of at least one violent crime.


CONCLUSIONS
Aggressive behaviour and victimization are common among severely mentally ill people requiring hospitalisation in the inner city. Rates of violent crime are higher than in the general population.
Hodgins
Sheilagh
S
Department of Forensic Mental Health Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Box PO 23, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK. s.hodgins@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Alderton
Jane
J
Cree
Adrian
A
Aboud
Andrew
A
Mak
Timothy
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006760:Hospitalization; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*