Violence and Psychiatric Disorder in the Community: Evidence From the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Surveys

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
² Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in Austin
³ Center for Cross-Cultural Research at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

202 Gail Borden Building, F-24, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas 77550

Data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey were used to examine the relationship between violence and psychiatric disorders among adults living in the community. Psychiatric assessment of survey respondents was based on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, which also provided self-report information about violent behavior. Those who reported violent behavior within the preceding year tended to be young, male, and of low socioeconomic status, and more than half met DSM-III criteria for one or more psychiatric disorders. Subjects with alcohol or drug use disorders were more than twice as likely as those with schizophrenia to report violent behavior. In a multivariate model of the predictors of violence, a significant interaction effect was found between major mental illness and substance abuse. The risk of violent behavior increased with the number of psychiatric diagnoses for which respondents met DSM-III criteria.

Note:

The data analysis for this paper was supported in part by a National Institute of Mental Health contract to Dr. Swanson. The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Program was supported in part by NIMH grants MH-34224 and MH-15783.

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