Individuals with mental disorders are at a heightened risk of both perpetrating violence and being victims of violent acts. Previous research has shown this association, but few studies have looked at both outcomes in the same cohort. A recent study by Dean et al. (2024) in the Danish population aimed to fill this gap. Using national register data, the study found that men with mental disorders had higher absolute risks of both violent victimization and perpetration compared to women and the general population without mental illness. Men with mental disorders were more likely to perpetrate violence than to be victims of it.
The study followed individuals born in Denmark between 1985 and 2001 for up to 15 years and linked data on demographics, mental disorders, and violence-related outcomes from national registers. Exposure was defined as a diagnosis of any mental disorder, with outcomes being the first police-recorded instance of violent victimization or perpetration. Absolute and relative risks for these outcomes were calculated using Poisson regression, with results showing that individuals with mental disorders, particularly men, had increased risks compared to the general population.
Men with mental disorders had a higher absolute risk of both violent victimization and perpetration, with rates being significantly higher for men than for women. Specific mental disorders, such as personality disorders, substance use disorders, and schizophrenia, were associated with the highest risk of both violent victimization and perpetration. The study highlights the importance of understanding the complex associations between mental disorders and violence-related outcomes and the need for further research to explore underlying drivers.
While the study had strengths, such as using police records for outcomes and presenting analyses by sex, limitations include possible biases in reporting and the focus on young adults. Future research should consider a broader age range and more specific categories of violent outcomes to further understand the temporal context of violence following the onset of mental illness. Overall, the study underscores the importance of implementing health maintenance strategies and risk management procedures to address the increased risk of violence among individuals with mental disorders.
