Citation

Khalifeh H, Johnson S, Howard LM, Borschmann R, Osborn D, Dean K, Hart C, Hogg J, Moran P. Br. J. Psychiatry 2015; 206(4): 275-282.

Affiliation

H. Khalifeh, MSc, MRCPsych, S. Johnson, MD, MRCPsych, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London; L. M. Howard, PhD, MRCPsych, R. Borschmann, DClinPsy, David Goldberg Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London; D. Osborn, PhD, MRCPsych, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London; K. Dean, PhD, MRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry, London, and School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales and Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network; C. Hart, MSc, J. Hogg, MSc, P. Moran, PhD, MRCPsych, David Goldberg Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.bp.114.147843

PMID

25698767

Abstract

Background Little is known about the relative extent of crime against people with severe mental illness (SMI). Aims To assess the prevalence and impact of crime among people with SMI compared with the general population.

METHOD A total of 361 psychiatric patients were interviewed using the national crime survey questionnaire, and findings compared with those from 3138 general population controls participating in the contemporaneous national crime survey.

RESULTS Past-year crime was experienced by 40% of patients v. 14% of controls (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.8, 95% CI 2.0-3.8); and violent assaults by 19% of patients v. 3% of controls (adjusted OR = 5.3, 95% CI 3.1-8.8). Women with SMI had four-, ten- and four-fold increases in the odds of experiencing domestic, community and sexual violence, respectively. Victims with SMI were more likely to report psychosocial morbidity following violence than victims from the general population.

CONCLUSIONS People with SMI are at greatly increased risk of crime and associated morbidity. Violence prevention policies should be particularly focused on people with SMI.

Language: en