Masters Thesis

A descriptive study on predictors of dangerousness of the mentally ill

Studies of the mentally ill in relation to homicide and other violent, aggressive behaviors, tend to be of limited scope, often consisting of individual case studies. Findings frequently are inconclusive or contradictory. Prediction of the dangerousness of patients is of growing concern to psychiatrists and hospital staffs. An indication of this concern by an employee of the California Department of Mental Hygiene was expressed in the following statement: In California since the Lanterman-Petris-Short mental health act went into effect on July 1, 1969, admissions of patients to state mental hospitals have shifted to the sicker, and potentially more dangerous patients. Concern over this prompted Frank Ireland of the Division of Training, Department of Mental Hygiene, to appoint a committee from staff members of the state hospitals for the mentally ill to study the problem of predicting dangerousness. At Atascadero State Hospital, Atascadero, California, with 1200 or more dangerous or potentially dangerous patients. Degree of demonstrated or potential dangerousness strongly influences the treatment and therapeutic handling of the patient. The method of determining potential dangerousness is largely a matter of intuition and individual evaluation. The dearth of studies pertaining to predicting dangerousness in the mentally ill, the inconsistencies in findings in the available studies, and the existing need for useful predictors combine to make this study pertinent and meaningful.

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