Citation

Maniglio R. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2009; 119(3): 180-191.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01300.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of criminal victimization among people with severe mental illness and to explore risk factors.

Method: Four databases (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, ERIC, and AMED) were searched for articles published between January 1966 and August 2007, supplemented with hand‐search of reference lists from retrieved papers. The author and a Medical Doctor independently abstracted data and assessed study quality. Disagreements were resolved by consensus after review of the article and the review protocol.

Results: Nine studies, including 5195 patients, were identified. Prevalence estimates of criminal victimization ranged from 4.3% to 35.04%. Rates of victimization among severely mentally ill persons were 2.3–140.4 times higher than those in the general population. Criminal victimization was most frequently associated with alcohol and/or illicit drug use/abuse, homelessness, more severe symptomatology, and engagement in criminal activity.

Conclusion: Prevention and intervention programs should target high‐risk groups and improve patients’ mental health and quality of life.