The Psychiatry of Violence A Guide for Lawyers

The primary purpose of this book is to set violent behaviour not only against a background of mental disorder but also in relation to the social, cultural and personal pressures which can impinge on an individual who goes on to perpetrate violence. There is undoubtedly a public preoccupation with violence in all its manifestations. However, there is considerable misunderstanding of the psychiatric aspects of violent and aggressive behaviour. First, the perception of violence perpetrated by the mentally disordered is often a mistaken one. In fact, there are relatively few incidents of violent behaviour due to those suffering from mental disorder, although much publicity attends any act of violence that is derived from these patients. Secondly, even where the mentally disordered patient is the perpetrator of violence, the mental disorder, per se, is not usually the only causative factor. Mentally disordered patients, like everyone else, are subject to the forces of society, culture and personality and this fact must be appreciated if a clear understanding is to be achieved of the psychiatry of violence.

The Psychiatry of Violence: A Guide for Lawyers is an invaluable guide for legal practitioners involved in criminal law and family/child law and also other professionals who work within situations where they are called upon to evaluate the risks of violent behaviour (eg social workers, children's guardians, probation officers, community workers/counsellors dealing with both offenders and victims, and those involved in making policy).