NCJ Number
54291
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A REVIEW OF SEVEN MAJOR STUDIES ON THE DANGEROUSNESS OF PATIENTS RELEASED FROM MENTAL HOSPITALS ILLUSTRATES MANY METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. A RESEARCH DESIGN WHICH AVOIDS THESE PROBLEMS IS PROPOSED.
Abstract
THE FOLLOWING STUDIES ARE EXAMINED: ASHLEY'S REVIEW OF 1,000 CASES IN 1922; POLLOCK'S STUDY OF 9,563 PATIENTS IN 1938; THE COHEN AND FREEMAN STUDY OF 1,676 PATIENTS IN 1945; THE BILL AND MALZBERG FOLLOWUP OF 10,247 MALE PATIENTS IN 1962; THE 1965 STUDY OF RAPPEPORT AND LASSEN WHICH FOLLOWED TWO COHORTS OF MALE AND TWO COHORTS OF FEMALE PATIENTS RELEASED FROM MARYLAND STATE INSTITUTIONS; AND THE CALIFORNIA STUDY OF GIOVANNONI AND GUREL IN 1967 WHICH FOLLOWED 1,142 MALE PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITALS. THE EARLIER STUDIES ALL FOUND THAT PATIENTS RELEASED FROM MENTAL HOSPITALS HAD ARREST RATES FOR VIOLENT CRIME FAR BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION. HOWEVER, FINDINGS FROM THE RAPPEPORT AND LASSEN STUDY AND THE GIOVANNONI AND GUREL STUDY CONFLICTED WITH THESE EARLY RESULTS. THE METHODOLOGY OF EACH OF THESE STUDIES IS EXAMINED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE USE OF ARREST RECORDS POSES MANY PITFALLS AND THAT FEW OF THE STUDIES CONTROLLED FOR DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF RELEASED MENTAL PATIENTS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE EFFECTS OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY RESULT IN REHOSPITALIZATION, ON RESEARCH DESIGN ARE EXAMINED. A RESEARCH DESIGN UTILIZING BOTH ARREST RECORDS AND DATA ON VIOLENT ACTS WHICH DID NOT RESULT IN ARREST AND CONTROLLING FOR DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES IS SUGGESTED. BECAUSE THE DANGEROUSNESS OF MENTALLY ILL PERSONS IS AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED ISSUE, A WELL-DESIGNED STUDY IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE DATA FOR POLICY DECISIONS. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)