Henry J. Steadman, Ph.D. February 28, 2013
“Violence” v s. “ Violent C rime”
Amount of Violence / Violent Crime in U.S. By Persons with Serious Mental Disorders
3 – 5%
“That means 96% of violent crimes – defined by the FBI as murders, robberies, rapes, and aggravated assaults – are committed by people without any mental health problems at all.”
Just One Minute 2/13/03
“People with mental illnesses are no more violent than people without mental illnesses.”
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Statement on Sandy Hook Shooting (12/17/12)
Sample ¡
Men/Women, 18-40, White, African-American, Hispanic
¡
All diagnoses except retardation
¡
Voluntary/Involuntary, with/without prior violence
Sites ¡
Pittsburgh, PA; Worcester, MA; Kansas City, MO
¡
n = ∼1,000
¡
Thrown something at anyone?
¡
Pushed, grabbed, or shoved anyone?
¡
Slapped anyone?
¡
Kicked, bitten, or choked anyone?
¡
Hit anyone with a fist or object or beaten up anyone?
¡
Tried to physically force anyone to have sex against their will?
¡
Threatened anyone with a knife or gun or other lethal weapon?
¡
Used a knife or fired a gun at anyone?
¡
Done anything else that might be considered violent (if so, what?)
Violence ¡
Weapon use
¡
Threat with a weapon in hand
¡
Sexual assault
¡
Battery resulting in physical injury
Physical injury includes bruises, cuts, broken bones/teeth, stab/gunshot and/or death. Does not include spanking, violence in self-defense or institutional violence.
Number of Violent Incidents
Number of Discharged Patients
0
689
1
145
2
50
3
29
4
17
5
8
6
4
7 or more
9
Total incidents = 608
Total persons with violence = 262 (27.5%)
Violence (%) A. Types of Violence and Other Aggressive Acts (n = 608) Throwing object Push-grab-shove slap
12.0
Kick-bite-choke Hit-beat up
49.3
Force sex
5.3
Weapon threat Weapon use
29.3
Other, type unknown
4.1
Violence (%) B. Targets of Violence and Other Aggressive Acts (n = 558) Family
51.1
Spouse
23.3
Girlfriend/Boyfriend
13.8
Parental Figure
2.5
Child
2.5
Other Family
9.0
Friend/Acquaintance
35.1
Stranger
13.8
First 20 weeks
1 year
Major Mental Disorder, No Substance Abuse
Major Mental Disorder and Substance Abuse
Other Mental Disorder and Substance Abuse
Total Sample
10.1
22.3
32.6
18.7
17.9
31.1
43.0
27.5
30
% Violent
25 20 15 10 5 0 10
20
30 Weeks
40
Major Mental Disorders and No Substance Abuse Major Mental Disorders and Substance Abuse Other Mental Disorders and Substance Abuse
50
Overall
Without Substance Diagnosis
With Substance Diagnosis
Depression
18.8
10.3
27.9
Schizophrenia
8.1
5.4
11.8
Bipolar
15.2
14.3
16.7
Other Psychotic
17.2
12.5
23.1
Alcohol/Drug
28.8
N/A
28.8
Primary Research Diagnosis
% Violent
Delusions
First 20 Weeks
1 Year
A.  Any Delusions No Yes
20.0 (n = 135) 15.5 (n = 41)
29.4 (n = 201)* 22.8 (n = 61)
B. TCO Delusions No Yes
20.4 (n = 155)** 11.7 (n = 21)
29.4 (n = 226)** 19.7 (n = 36)
TCO = Threat/control override. * p = .05 ** p = .01.
% Violent Hallucinations
First 20 Weeks
1 Year
A.  Any No Yes
18.9 (n = 129) 19.0 (n = 47)
27.4 (n = 189) 29.0 (n = 73)
B. Command No Yes
18.5 (n = 147) 21.8 (n = 29)
27.1 (n = 219) 32.3 (n = 43)
C. Command to be Violent No Yes
16.6 (n = 32)* 27.7 (n = 18)
23.9 (n = 47)*** 44.6 (n = 29)
* p < .05 *** p < .001.
Percent Violent After Discharge Prior Violence and Criminality
First 20 Weeks
1 Year
Frequency of prior arrests â&#x20AC;&#x201C; self-report None Once/twice Three or more
9.9*** 17.5 32.0
16.5*** 30.7 43.3
16.0*** 27.7
21.4*** 39.1
15.4*** 24.7
23.1*** 35.7
Official arrest: crimes against person(s) No Yes Official arrest: crimes against property No Yes
* p < .05 ** p < .01 *** p < .001.