Researchers from the University of New South Wales linked health data, criminal records and births, deaths and marriages records to examine the onset of violent offending following psychosis. They found:
- Nearly one in six of those with a psychosis diagnosis who had no prior history of violence subsequently committed a violent offence, most commonly within four years.
- Risk of violent offending was associated with being placed on a community treatment order, being male, having an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, having substance-related psychosis, being aged under 20 years, being single and living in a disadvantaged socio-economic area.
- Being placed on a community treatment order delayed the onset of violence, especially in the first year of the order.
Trends & issues summary:
First-time violent offending following psychosis diagnosis