Violence among the Mentally III

The text, written by some of the leading researchers in the world in the field of mental illness and crime, starts by reviewing investigations of crime and violence by the mentally ill in the community, in hospitals and in correctional facilities. It goes on to review the development of offending and violent behaviour among persons with mental illness. Subsequent chapters document what is known about the effective prevention of offending and violent behaviour among the mentally ill. The provision of treatment in the community, in hospitals and correctional facilities is then critically reviewed and discussed, with specific descriptions of pharmacological and behavioural treatments. Compliance with treatment is discussed at length. Methodological issues in measuring the effectiveness of treatment of mentally ill offenders are described, with recommendations for future studies to evaluate treatments.