Mental Illness, Violence, and Risk Assessment: An Evidence-Based Review

Abstract

The presumed link between violence and mental illness has long been an ongoing subject of investigation. Are the mentally ill more likely than those without mental illness to commit violent crimes? Can mental health and criminal justice professionals accurately assess the likelihood of violence? In the current review, we describe scientific evidence to explore these questions. This article is divided into three sections. The first examines the relationship between mental illness and violent behavior, drawing mostly on large-scale studies of the general population. The second explores assessment tools that have been employed to predict violent behavior among correctional and psychiatric populations. The third discusses the implications of this research for policy and practices regarding mental illness, violence, and risk assessment.

Keywords:

• violence
• risk assessment
• threat
• mental illness
• prevention