title: Mass murders: implications for mental health professionals.
abstract: In this article, we attempt to uncover whether mass murders (the killing of multiple victims in single events) are preventable acts, the extent to which they are contributed to by biological and psychological factors, the notion that they are inextricably linked to mental illness, the role of the media, and what lessons can be learned by mental health professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. laitken@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oosthuizen
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Emsley
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seedat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology