Citation

Labrum T, Solomon PL. Violence Gend. 2016; 3(2): 89-91.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/vio.2015.0052

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Persons with psychiatric disorders (PD) are at a modestly increased risk of committing violence. Only a very small portion of general and gun-related violence by persons with PD is committed against strangers. Instead, family members and other well-known persons are the vast majority of such victims. The objective of the present analysis is, with the use of a U.S.-community-recruited sample, to examine rates of victimization of threats and acts of violence involving a gun or other weapon against family members committed by relatives with PD. Of the respondents, 10% and 4.5% reported that since their relative with PD was first diagnosed with a mental health condition, s/he has threatened them with a weapon and has used a weapon against them, respectively. With regard to the past 6 months, 4% and 2% of respondents reported that their relative with PD has threatened them with a weapon and used a weapon against them. It is imperative that research be conducted in this area indicating how we may best prevent acts of weapon threat and use against family members by this population. Additionally, it is important that the large part family members have in the victimization of gun and other weapon-related violence by persons with PD be acknowledged when developing social policies intended to prevent such victimization.

Language: en