PROTOCOL: Mental disorder, psychological problems and terrorist behaviour: A systematic review

Abstract

This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. The objectives are as follows:the first objective of the review (Objective 1-Prevalence) is to present a synthesis of the reported prevalence rates of mental health difficulties in terrorist samples.Where sufficient data is available, the synthesis will be sensitive to the heterogeneity of the terrorism phenomenon by exploring the rates of mental health difficulties for different forms of terrorism and for different terrorist roles (e.g., bombing, logistics, finance, etc.). The second objective (Objective 2-Temporality) will synthesise the extent to which mental health difficulties pre-date involvement in terrorism within prevalence studies. Finally, the third objective (Objective 3-Risk) aims to further establish temporality by examining the extent to which the presence of mental disorder is associated with terrorist involvement by comparing terrorist and non-terrorist samples.

Mental disorder, psychological problems and terrorist behaviour: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…On reviewing the eligible studies, and noting the considerable heterogeneity in all analyses, we considered potential moderators that might explain, in part at least, the evident heterogeneity. Both moderators were anticipated a priori (see Sarma et al, 2022). The first was data source.…”

“…During the full‐text review process we identified a number of studies that shared the same datasets and, thus, raised concern in relation to the independence of the samples for the data synthesis. Where datasets are shared, we made decisions as to which studies to include in the data synthesis, with all studies being included in the narrative synthesis (see Sarma et al, 2022). Studies were flagged if: …”

“…Where datasets are shared, we made decisions as to which studies to include in the data synthesis, with all studies being included in the narrative synthesis (see Sarma et al, 2022). Studies were flagged if:…”

The psychiatric correlation of terrorism – schizophrenia and the lone-actor terrorist

“…During the investigation of the 'terrorist person' a potential mental trouble is almost always among the aspects of study. No wonder that in recent times several studies have been conducted for the very purpose to discover the importance of mental health in terror activity (Sarma-Carthy-Cox 2022).…”