Therapy critical for schizophrenic ex-convicts as a way of preventing violence

Leanne Jenkins--A man goes into a shopping mall with an assault rifle and large amounts of ammunition for loading and reloading. It's a common story of modern times to watch the events unfold, where the man ends up killing innocent people, then turning the gun on himself, and the description of the perpetrator includes confused thoughts and anger and the assumptions of mental illness. But does psychoses create violence and under what circumstances?

Recent medical research findings shows psychosis increases the risk of violent behavior among released prisoners and treatment reduces this risk. A group of released prisoners suffering schizophrenia was studied with the results showing that without treatment, psychotic individuals have a greater chance of violence. Follow up treatment, therefore, becomes important following prison for those who have schizophrenia.

The research is further evidence that those who have schizophrenia should have intervention and therapy, as it is a key to preventing violence. It also establishes the need for follow up of those who are schizophrenic who have been in prison and released, as too often violence can occur if ongoing therapy is not provided. Experts remind us of the need for better screening and treatment of prisoners as way of reducing recidivism and the possibilities of a former inmate becoming involved in a violent crime. This is particularly important because mentally ill ex-inmates lack treatment and medications, which increases the risk of violence in our society.