A new study by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has found that antisocial personality disorder and hazardous drinking are significant risk factors for violence in the general population.
The study surveyed 8397 people aged between 16 and 74, living in private households in England, Wales and Scotland in 2000. Psychiatric diagnoses were determined, using computer–assisted interviews, of psychosis, personality disorder, and common mental disorders, including depression, neurotic disorder, hazardous alcohol misuse and drug dependence. A category of ‘no psychiatric disorder' was also included. All participants were asked questions about violent behaviour.
By far the largest public health impact on serious and repetitive violence, together with versatility of violence, was linked to hazardous drinking, which was associated with over half of all incidents involving injury.
The authors of the study comment that a relatively small reduction in hazardous drinking at the individual level (which affects a relatively large proportion of the population), could result in a relatively large impact on the population’s behaviour in relation to alcohol consumption and violence.
Coid J et al (2006) Violence and psychiatric morbidity in the national household population of Britain: public health implications The British Journal of Psychiatry 189: 12-19 Abstract here
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