CRM380: 8 ~ Crime and Mental Disorder

Media's Influence

Media portrayals often contribute to the perception that individuals with mental disorders are dangerous, particularly during crime reporting.

Infotainment

Television programming that presents news in an entertaining format, often leading to skewed public perceptions.

Risk Factors

Factors that contribute to violence, which include issues like substance abuse rather than mental illness alone.

Psychotic Disorders

Disorders characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking; most notably schizophrenia.

Prevalence of Violence in the Mentally Ill

The majority of individuals with mental disorders do not engage in violent behavior, and those who do often have comorbid substance abuse disorders.

MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study

Study showing that higher anger scores are linked to increased likelihood of violent behavior.

Schizophrenia and Violence

Individuals with schizophrenia are significantly more likely to exhibit violence when they also have substance abuse issues.

Persecutory Delusions

False convictions that others are threatening or conspiring against oneself, commonly seen in paranoid schizophrenia.

Depression and Violence

While depression is shown to correlate with higher risks of violence, it is often overshadowed by factors such as substance abuse and antisocial behavior.

Comorbidity Strategies

The presence of both mental illness and substance abuse increases the risk of violent behavior significantly.