Skip to main content

Schizophrenia and Violence

In general, people with schizophrenia are not violent. In fact, they are more likely to withdraw from people and not want to be bothered.

However, in the case of violence for the person with schizophrenia it would most likely be against themselves in the form of suicide. Suicidal thoughts is a symptom of schizophrenia, the voices may encourage one to harm themself or others in some cases. Ten percent of people with schizophrenia will commit suicide. This is especially true for young males. Also, suicide is prevalent among the first ten years of illness. 50 Signs of Mental Illness states: "Rates of suicide are twenty times higher among drug and alcohol abusers than among nonabusers". If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts they should seek immediate professional assistance. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.

The following factors make a person with schizophrenia prone to violence: 1) past history of violence (prior to illness) just like the general public, 2) drug and alcohol abuse similar to the general population, 3) not taking medication, 4) low socio-economic status, 5) young, and 6) male gender. Also, severe psychotic symptoms increase the risk of violence. The person with schizophrenia may think that others are trying to harm them and respond with violence. In any event, the people most affected by violent acts would most likely be family and friends, and the violent act would occur in the home.

Again, people with schizophrenia are generally not violent unless they have the same characteristics as the stated factors. Suicide is the most common act of violence among people with schizophrenia. Suicide attempts are not practiced by all people with schizophrenia, just a small percentage of them. If you or someone you know is considering suicide contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-TALK.

Resources:

50 Signs of Mental Illness by James Whitney Hicks, M.D.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/family/viol.htm

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/schizophrenia-and-violence/

http://www.dialogues-cns.org/brochures/07/nn4/DCNS%2007_62.asp

http://schizophrenia.emedtv.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-and-violence.html

http://www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk/research/expanded/?id=6

Comments

As Lovers Go said…
I really enjoy your blog, I think your amazing.

Popular posts from this blog

Religious Preoccupation

After a talk, a woman asked me if my faith contributed to my recovery because she noticed that I mentioned it throughout my speech. In addition to that, she told me that she observed people with faith as having a better outcome in their mental health recovery. First, I came from a family with Christian values. My faith in God started to get intense during the latter years of high school, which in my opinion, is when I started having symptoms. In my experience religion plays a major role in my mental health- its delusions, its coping skills, and in my recovery. In medical terms they call my religious rituals and delusions "religious preoccupation." Before I was diagnosed I was highly religious. In fact, I wanted to be an evangelist and to go to a Christian college. I would read my Bible for several hours a day throughout the day, listen to hymns, and meditate. Sometimes I would ignore people if they wanted my attention while I was meditating I was in such deep thought. Also, I...

The Path that God Chose for Me

I am not upset that I have schizophrenia, this is the life God chose for me. The other day I was telling my mother I am glad I took a break from school, but I wish I had taken it sooner so that I could have recognized my illness sooner. She reminded me that everything happens for a reason, and that had I took a break sooner I would not have been able to know my full potential in college and in life. I went to college and got really involved in it through sports, internships, and mentoring peers. I was involved in so many things, school, church, home, friends, family, you name it! She was right, I am glad I took the path I took. I did not always have schizophrenia, but now that I have it I will work hard to overcome it. I try not to use the word schizophrenic because that identifies the person by their illness and that isn't fair. I am Ashley and I have schizophrenia. I will not let it limit my potential or define who I am. I can and will overcome these symptoms with medication, the...

Schizophrenia is not Caused by BAD Parenting!!

The situation that I am about to discuss with you is very personal and a sensitive topic, however, similar things most likely occur in other people's families as well. After I had my psychotic break, relatives believed my mother was to blame for my illness. They believed I wasn't raised right and my mother's parenting skills were to blame. Although this was a harsh attitude towards my mother, it was another form of denial. Family made accusations, although I was not even raised in the same state as the rest of my family. Once a person has a mental illness the whos, whats, wheres and whys really do not matter. The only thing that should matter is getting that person back on the right track and moving forward toward recovery. During my childhood, I always felt loved by my mother. She would call me her "princess," "little queen," "pumpkin pie," or "ratcoon." I remember her telling me "I love you," and exchanging hugs before bed...