Gang Members Found to Suffer Unprecedented Levels of Psychiatric Illness

From the 12 July post at Science Daily

 

Young men who are gang members suffer unprecedented levels of psychiatric illness, placing a heavy burden on mental health services, according to new research led by Queen Mary, University of London.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Maurice & Jacqueline Bennett Charitable Trust funded study surveyed 4,664 men aged 18 to 34 in Britain. The survey covered measures of psychiatric illness, violence and gang membership. It is the first time research has looked into whether gang violence is associated with psychiatric illness, other than substance misuse.

…

In terms of mental health, gang members and violent men were significantly more likely to suffer from a mental disorder and access psychiatric services than non-violent men. The exception was depression, which was significantly less common among gang members and violent men.

Violent ruminative thinking, violent victimisation and fear of further victimisation were significantly higher in gang members and believed to account for high levels of psychosis and anxiety disorder in gang members.

The findings showed that, of the 108 gang members surveyed:

• 85.8 per cent had an antisocial personality disorder;
• Two-thirds were alcohol dependent;
• 25.1 per cent screened positive for psychosis;
• More than half (57.4 per cent) were drug dependent;
• Around a third (34.2 per cent) had attempted suicide; and
• More than half (58.9 per cent) had an anxiety disorder.

…

The authors suggest that the higher rate of attempted suicide attempts among gang members may be associated with other psychiatric illness, but could also correspond with the notion that impulsive violence may be directed both outwardly and inwardly.

Street gangs are concentrated in inner urban areas characterised by socioeconomic deprivation, high crime rates and multiple social problems. The authors report that around one per cent of 18 to 34-year-old men in Britain are gang members. The level rises to 8.6 per cent in the London borough of Hackney, where one in five black men reported gang membership….

English: An MS-13 suspect bearing gang tattoos is handcuffed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Related articles

• Unprecedented Levels Of Psychiatric Illness Found In Gang Members (medicalnewstoday.com)
• Gang Members at an Increased Risk of Psychiatric Illnesses (counselheal.com)
• Most Gang Members Have a Diagnosable Mental Illness (motherboard.vice.com)
• Gang Members May Suffer From Unprecedented Illnesses (scienceworldreport.com)
• Gang Membership Tied To Mental Health Problems (medicalnewstoday.com)