Psychosis Rarely Begets Murder, Experts Say: Demographics Better Predict Violence Than Does Mental Illness-Except for Substance Abuse Disorder

Kirn, Timothy F., Clinical Psychiatry News

TORONTO -- Even movies and popular songs refer to the idea that there are dark and dangerous mentally ill persons who have the capacity to become "psycho killers."

The more appropriate term, however, might be "personality disorder killer," according to those leading a session at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

The session was conducted by three forensic psychiatrists who said they were inspired by the idea that the general public has what may be an inordinate fear of psychotic individuals committing murder.

The newspaper is one place where the public gets its impressions of the mentally ill, and one survey of general media content found that 39% of newspaper stories with reference to mental illness focus on dangerousness and acts of violence, and that those stories get more prominent placement than do stories …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Psychosis Rarely Begets Murder, Experts Say: Demographics Better Predict Violence Than Does Mental Illness-Except for Substance Abuse Disorder. Contributors: Kirn, Timothy F. - Author. Magazine title: Clinical Psychiatry News. Volume: 34. Issue: 8 Publication date: August 2006. Page number: 54. © 2009 International Medical News Group. COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group.

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