Violence And Mental Disorder

Bol Partner

This study reviews two decades of research on mental disorder and presents empirical and theoretical work which aims to determine more accurate predictions of violent behaviour. In courts across the country, judges depend on mental health experts to determine whether mentally disordered people are dangerous. But experts' ability to predict violence is severely limited, and they are wrong as often as they are right. This study reviews two decades of research on mental disorder and offers new empirical and theoretical work that will pave the way for more accurate predictions of violent behavior. "Essential for all those who are interested in the study of risk assessment of violence. It is particularly important for the researcher in this area. . . . For the clinician who must make violence assessments it is important reading as well."—Stewart Levine, Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Bol

Violence and Mental Disorder takes the debate about violence into new territory by increasing our understanding of the wide range of factors associated with the commission of violence. This comprehensive and critical review of the literature is intended for a broad audience, including clinicians, researchers and policy makers working in this complex area. It is a much-needed resource for mental health professionals whose day-to-day work involves assessing and managing those thought to be at risk of engaging in acts of violence.