A Reassessment of Blaming Mass Shootings on Mental Illness

Hirschtritt, Matthew E.; Binder, Renée L.

doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.0010

Cited by 18 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In reality, only 4 percent of violent crimes in the United States are committed by people with mental illness; some of the most common psychiatric diagnoses have no correlation with violence, and individuals with mental illness are more likely to be victims of assault than perpetrators (Metzl and MacLeish 2015). Moreover, blaming gun violence on mental illness perpetuates inaccurate stereotypes of the mentally ill (Rubin 2016; Hirschtritt and Binder 2018). Nevertheless, our findings speak to the ubiquity of the mental illness narrative.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Who’s to Blame? Partisanship, Responsibility, and Support for Mental Health Treatment

Munsch

Barnes

Kline

2020

Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World

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This article investigates partisan beliefs regarding attributions of responsibility for mental illness and support for mental health treatment. In study 1, we utilize a nationally representative data set to investigate these relationships with respect to generalized anxiety disorder. In study 2, we utilize an online convenience sample to assess these relationships in the context of schizophrenia. In both studies, Republicans were more likely than Democrats to attribute mental health disorders to factors that lie within patients’ control and were less supportive of healthcare coverage. In addition, given the rhetorical, erroneous link between schizophrenia and gun violence, we assess participants’ beliefs about gun control in the context of mental health. Paradoxically, we find that people who support gun rights for the mentally ill are the least likely to support healthcare coverage for the mentally ill. We discuss the implications of our findings for shaping U.S. gun debates.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Who’s to Blame? Partisanship, Responsibility, and Support for Mental Health Treatment

Munsch

Barnes

Kline

2020

Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World

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“…Some research, however, suggests a somewhat increased risk for violence, especially homicide, among individuals with psychotic symptoms or disorders (Fazel, Gulati, Linsell, Geddes, & Grann, 2009;Keers, Ullrich, Destavola, & Coid, 2014;Large & Nielssen, 2011;McNiel, Eisner, & Binder, 2000;Swanson et al, 2006), especially during their first episodes (Large & Nielssen, 2011), while other reports suggest that abuse of drugs or alcohol is a key mediating factor (Elbogen & Johnson, 2009;Steadman et al, 1998;Swartz et al, 1998). This and other work has implied a link between violence and psychosis (Walsh, Buchanan, & Fahy, 2002), which may be misrepresented by the media in the context of mass violence (Parks et al, 2019) and generate stigma (Hirschtritt & Binder, 2018;Phelan & Link, 1998). Thus, the potential relationship between mass shootings and mental illness constitutes a critical public health concern.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Psychotic symptoms in mass shootings v. mass murders not involving firearms: findings from the Columbia mass murder database

et al. 2021

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Background Mass shootings account for a small fraction of annual worldwide murders, yet disproportionately affect society and influence policy. Evidence suggesting a link between mass shootings and severe mental illness (i.e. involving psychosis) is often misrepresented, generating stigma. Thus, the actual prevalence constitutes a key public health concern. Methods We examined global personal-cause mass murders from 1900 to 2019, amassed by review of 14 785 murders publicly described in English in print or online, and collected information regarding perpetrator, demographics, legal history, drug use and alcohol misuse, and history of symptoms of psychiatric or neurologic illness using standardized methods. We distinguished whether firearms were or were not used, and, if so, the type (non-automatic v. semi- or fully-automatic). Results We identified 1315 mass murders, 65% of which involved firearms. Lifetime psychotic symptoms were noted among 11% of perpetrators, consistent with previous reports, including 18% of mass murderers who did not use firearms and 8% of those who did (χ2 = 28.0, p < 0.01). US-based mass shooters were more likely to have legal histories, use recreational drugs or misuse alcohol, or have histories of non-psychotic psychiatric or neurologic symptoms. US-based mass shooters with symptoms of any psychiatric or neurologic illness more frequently used semi-or fully-automatic firearms. Conclusions These results suggest that policies aimed at preventing mass shootings by focusing on serious mental illness, characterized by psychotic symptoms, may have limited impact. Policies such as those targeting firearm access, recreational drug use and alcohol misuse, legal history, and non-psychotic psychopathology might yield more substantial results.

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“…Much attention has been given in the media to the perception of violent crime being perpetuated by persons with mental disorder, 11,78 though it has been argued that victimization among the mentally ill is a greater societal concern. 24 Our study underscored the robust relationship between mental disorders and both criminal accusations and victimization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Intersection between Criminal Accusations, Victimization, and Mental Disorders: A Canadian Population-Based Study

et al. 2020

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Objective: Understand the relationship between criminal accusations, victimization, and mental disorders at a population level using administrative data from Manitoba, Canada. Method: Residents aged 18 to 64 between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2012 ( N = 793,024) with hospital- and physician-diagnosed mental disorders were compared to those without. Overall and per-person rates of criminal accusations and reported victimization in the 2011/2012 fiscal year were examined. Relative risks were calculated, adjusting for age, sex, income, and presence of a substance use disorder. The overlap between diagnosed mental disorders, accusations, and victimization with a χ2 test of independence was studied. Results: Twenty-four percent ( n = 188,693) of the population had a mental disorder over the 5-year time frame. Four to fifteen percent of those with a mental disorder had a criminal accusation, compared to 2.4% of the referent group. Individuals with mental disorders, especially psychotic or personality disorders, were often living in low-income, urban neighborhoods. The adjusted relative risk of accusations and victimization remained 2 to 5 times higher in those with mental disorders compared to the referent group. Criminal accusations and victimization were most prevalent among individuals with a history of attempted suicide (15.2% had an accusation and 8.1% were victims). The risk of victimization in the same year as a criminal accusation was significantly increased among those with mental disorders compared to those without (χ2 = 211.8, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Individuals with mental disorders are at elevated risk of both criminal involvement and victimization. The identification of these multiply-stigmatized individuals may lead to better intervention and support.

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A Reassessment of Blaming Mass Shootings on Mental Illness

Cited by 18 publications

References 7 publications

Who’s to Blame? Partisanship, Responsibility, and Support for Mental Health Treatment

Who’s to Blame? Partisanship, Responsibility, and Support for Mental Health Treatment

Psychotic symptoms in mass shootings v. mass murders not involving firearms: findings from the Columbia mass murder database

The Intersection between Criminal Accusations, Victimization, and Mental Disorders: A Canadian Population-Based Study

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