Gender and violence against people with severe mental illness.
Men and women with severe mental illness (SMI) are at significantly increased risk of violent victimisation, but the gender pattern for this has not been systematically examined. In the general population, men are at higher risk of overall and physical victimisation, whilst women are at increased risk of domestic and sexual violence. We re-examined published victimisation studies from a gender perspective, and found that, compared to the general population, women with SMI are at greater excess risk than men, leading to a narrowing in the 'gender gap'. We discuss theoretical explanations for this and implications for prevention and research.
Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London (Royal Free Hospital campus), De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
Hind
H
Khalifeh
Kimberlie
K
Dean
D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*