Citation

Elbogen EB, Van Dorn RA, Swanson JW, Swartz MS, Monahan J. Br. J. Psychiatry 2006; 189: 354-360.

Affiliation

Duke University Medical Center, DUMC 3071, Durham, NC 27710, USA. eric.elbogen@duke.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.105.017913

PMID

17012659

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research has uncovered many characteristics related to violence committed by people with mental illness. However, relatively few studies have focused on understanding the connection between violence and dynamic, malleable variables such as a patient's level of treatment engagement. AIMS: To explore the link between community violence and patients'beliefs about psychiatric treatment benefit. METHOD: A sample of 1011 adults receiving out-patient treatment for a psychiatric disorder in the public mental health systems of five US states were interviewed. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses revealed community violence was inversely related to treatment adherence, perceived treatment need and perceived treatment effectiveness. Multivariate analyses showed these three variables were associated with reduced odds of violent and other aggressive acts. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest clinical consideration of patients' perceptions of treatment benefit can help enhance violence risk assessment in psychiatric practice settings.

Language: en