Practice Resources

People with schizophrenia are violent; and most violent crimes are committed by people with mental illness.

The media, whether through movies or sensationalized reportage of individual acts, would have us believe that people with schizophrenia are likely to commit extremely violent acts. On the contrary, research shows that individuals with schizophrenia who are in treatment are no more dangerous than the general population.

Individuals who are not in treatment do have increased risk for violence. It is not unusual for the first-episode patient to have done bizarre or aggressive acts. In fact, about a third of patients commit a violent act prior to first treatment contact that proves to be embarrassing to the patient, or affects their relationships, especially if the target of the aggression was a family member, employer, teacher, or friend. (Source: OASIS Early Psychosis Toolkit)

Individuals with schizophrenia who are the most dangerous are those who are not receiving treatment and are also abusing substances. Research also shows that most individuals with a serious mental illness who commit violence, hurt people they know and see on a regular basis, usually family caretakers. Studies have shown that between 50 and 60 percent of the victims are family members.