The Connection Between

Mental Illness,
Violence, and
Impulsivity
For years, medical experts
have connected mental
illness with substance use
in particular, the
relationship between
substance abuse and harm to
oneself or others.

However, as researchers
continue to study this
connection, it appears the
role of alcohol and drugs may
be more significant than
originally hypothesized.
While the amount of violent
crimes committed by the
mentally ill is low in
proportion to the total
number, substance use
seems to play a weighty role
in that portion.

A study in the American
Journal of Psychiatry found
that 58% of the 208
defendants studied had an
Axis I or II disorder, with
47% of those individuals
diagnosed with
substance use.
A different study showed that
individuals were 2.7 times
more likely to participate
in a violent act if their
symptoms, and severity of
symptoms, fluctuated rapidly,
rather than trending back to
stability.

Substance use particularly,
alcohol was connected to
the inability to control
symptoms back to
equilibrium or a set point.
Psychiatry professor Edward Mulvey says
advances in understanding how to identify
high-risk groups combined with effectively
monitoring changes in risk in particular,
substance use could be valuable in dealing
with potential acts of violence.
Associate professor of
psychiatry Kenneth
Conner says it is hard to
conduct research on
suicidality among
individuals with
alcohol use disorders
because it is a
challenging group to
track. However, he has
found in his research
that suicide attempts
increase up to 6 times
with acute alcohol
use.
Alan Swann, a professor of
psychiatry and behavioral
sciences, says violence is
closely tied to impulsivity.
While substance use is
correlated with increased
impulsive acts, it is especially
dominant in individuals
suffering from a
psychiatric illness.

Being the victim of aggressive
behavior, acting out
aggressively, and suicidality
increase among the mentally
ill using substances.
Brain structure is closely linked to the roots of
impulsivity. While stress, mania, and even sleep
deprivation can wildly affect the complex system
of responses in the brain, an acute use of
drugs or alcohol can further disturb an
already maladapted system, Dr. Swann
stresses.

For example, alcohol is both a stimulant and
a depressant the brain must go through two
independent responses.
The takeaway from this
connection between the
underlying biology of
impulsivity and substance use
is that there is potential for
future pharmacological
treatments, Dr. Swann
points out.

However, even being aware
of the connection allows
individuals to recognize
their risky behavior and
make modifications.

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Resource:
http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleID=1887008

Summary
Experts are continuing their research linking violence among the
mentally ill to substance use. The relationship between impulsivity and
acute use of substances, in particular, alcohol, has shown to greatly
factor into harming oneself or harming others.