VIOLENCE LINKED TO SCHIZOPHRENIA, DRUG DEPENDENCY

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Alcohol dependency, marijuana dependency and
schizophrenia are strongly related to violence, researchers report.

``Our study suggests that a significant proportion of the burden of violence
that frightens and injures the general public may be attributed to young
adults who are prone to schizophrenia...or dependent on alcohol or other
drugs, many of whom have not been hospitalized or treated,'' according to
Dr. Louise Arseneault of the University of London, UK, and colleagues.

In their study, 961 young adults (age 21) who resided in Dunedin, New
Zealand were assessed for mental disorders and violence using both
self-reported information and court records. The findings are published in
the October issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

``Persons with at least one of these three disorders constituted only one
fifth of the (number of people evaluated), but they accounted for more than
half of the...violent convictions, violent acts and violent offenders
(committed by the group as a whole),'' Arseneault and colleagues write.

Obviously, not all people with mental disorders engage in violence, the
authors note. Nonetheless, the three disorders discussed in the report had a
very high association with violent acts.

The report indicates that schizophrenic patients are more likely to harbor
feelings of mistrust towards society, which may lead to violent acts during
``episodes of psychosis''--periods of loss of contact with reality.

On the other hand, those who are alcohol-dependent may simply be
experiencing the ``disinhibiting effects'' associated with alcohol abuse,
according to the researchers. Recognition of this fact may be crucial in
trying to stem violence among alcohol users through minimizing their use of
alcohol, the team notes.

Marijuana users, having exposed themselves to illegal acts as in the buying
and selling of illicit drugs ``may learn early to rely on violence for
addressing disputes,'' the researchers suggest.

``Scientists and professionals do not welcome this finding because it
stigmatizes these individuals,'' the authors write. ''However, research that
provides sound explanations for the link may help to reduce ignorance that
fuels public fears and to inform strategies for preventing or limiting
violence among the mentally ill,'' Arseneault and colleagues conclude.

Archives of General Psychiatry 2000;57:979-986.