Abstract
Background An important risk factor for suicide is psychiatric illness, but only a limited amount of work has been directed at assessing the use of firearms and other weapons by select psychiatric populations at high risk for violent acts. Method Patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), patients with schizophrenia, and patients undergoing rehabilitation for substance abuse were asked to complete a weapons-use survey and measures of psychopathology. Results The PTSD patients surveyed related owning more than four times as many firearms as other subjects and reported significantly higher levels of potentially dangerous firearm-related behaviors than the other psychiatric subjects surveyed. Conclusion High levels of aggression, impulsive and dangerous weapon use, and ready weapon availability may be significant factors in gun-related violence in the PTSD patient population. Additional prospective research is needed to determine whether gun ownership or certain types of weapon use in this population is associated with future acts of violence.
This content is limited to qualifying members.
If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.
Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.
Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.
References
References 1. Kellermann AL, Westphal L, Fischer L, Harvard B. Weapon involvement in home invasion crimes. JAMA 1995; 273: 1759–1762.KellermannAL]]WestphalL]]FischerL]]HarvardBWeapon involvement in home invasion crimesJAMA19952731759 2. Annest JL, Mercy JA, Gibson DR, Ryan GW. National estimates of nonfatal firearm-related injuries: Beyond the tip of the iceberg. JAMA 1995; 273: 1749–1754.AnnestJL]]MercyJA]]GibsonDR]]RyanGWNational estimates of nonfatal firearm-related injuries: Beyond the tip of the icebergJAMA19952731749 3. Monk M. Epidemiology of suicide. Epidemiol Rev 1987; 9: 51–69.MonkMEpidemiology of suicideEpidemiol Rev1987951 4. Kellermann AL, Rivara FP, Somes G, Reay DT, Francisco J, Banton JG, et al. Suicide in the home in relation to gun ownership. N Engl J Med 1992; 327: 467–472.KellermannAL]]RivaraFP]]SomesG]]ReayDT]]FranciscoJ]]BantonJGSuicide in the home in relation to gun ownershipN Engl J Med1992327467 5. Baker SP, O'Neill B, Karpf RS. The Injury Fact Book. New York, Oxford University Press, 1992, ed 2. 6. Blumenthal SJ. Suicide: A guide to risk factors, assessment, and treatment of suicidal patients. Med Clin North Am 1988; 72: 937–971.BlumenthalSJSuicide: A guide to risk factors, assessment, and treatment of suicidal patientsMed Clin North Am198872937 7. Freeman T, Clothier J, Thornton C, Keesee N. Firearm collection and use among combat veterans admitted to a posttraumatic stress disorder rehabilitation unit. J Nerv Ment Dis 1994; 182: 592–594.FreemanT]]ClothierJ]]ThorntonC]]KeeseeNFirearm collection and use among combat veterans admitted to a posttraumatic stress disorder rehabilitation unitJ Nerv Ment Dis1994182592 8. McFall M, Fontana A, Raskind M, Rosenheck R. Analysis of violent behavior in Vietnam combat veteran psychiatric inpatients with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Trauma Stress 1999; 12: 501–517.McFallM]]FontanaA]]RaskindM]]RosenheckRAnalysis of violent behavior in Vietnam combat veteran psychiatric inpatients with posttraumatic stress disorderJ Trauma Stress199912501 9. Lehmann L, McCormick RA, McCracken L. Suicidal behavior among patients in the VA health care system. Psychiatr Serv 1995; 46: 1069–1071.LehmannL]]McCormickRA]]McCrackenLSuicidal behavior among patients in the VA health care systemPsychiatr Serv1995461069 10. King E. Suicide in the mentally ill: An epidemiological sample and implications for clinicians. Br J Psychiatry 1994; 165: 658–663.KingESuicide in the mentally ill: An epidemiological sample and implications for cliniciansBr J Psychiatry1994165658 11. DeQuardo JR, Carpenter CF, Tandon R. Patterns of substance abuse in schizophrenia: Nature and significance. J Psychiatr Res 1994; 28: 267–275.DeQuardoJR]]CarpenterCF]]TandonRPatterns of substance abuse in schizophrenia: Nature and significanceJ Psychiatr Res199428267 12. Yesavage JA. Dangerous behavior by Viet Nam veterans with schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry 1983; 140: 1180–1183.YesavageJADangerous behavior by Viet Nam veterans with schizophreniaAm J Psychiatry19831401180 13. Selzer ML. The Michigan alcoholism screening test: The quest for a new diagnostic instrument. Am J Psychiatry 1971; 127: 1653–1658.SelzerMLThe Michigan alcoholism screening test: The quest for a new diagnostic instrumentAm J Psychiatry19711271653 14. Staley D, el-Guebaly N. Psychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test in a psychiatric patient population. Addict Behav 1990; 15: 257–264.StaleyD]]el-GuebalyNPsychometric properties of the Drug Abuse Screening Test in a psychiatric patient populationAddict Behav199015257 15. Blackburn R. The Development and Validation of Scales to Measure Hostility and Aggression (Special Hospital Research Reports). London, Special Hospitals Research Unit, 1974. 16. Buss AH, Perry M. The aggression questionnaire. J Pers Soc Psychol 1992; 63: 452–459.BussAH]]PerryMThe aggression questionnaireJ Pers Soc Psychol199263452 17. Blake DD, Weathers FW, Nagy LM, Kaloupek DG, Klauminzer G, Charney DS, et al. A clinician rating scale for assessing current and lifetime PTSD: The CAPS-1. Behav Therapist 1990; 13: 187–188.BlakeDD]]WeathersFW]]NagyLM]]KaloupekDG]]KlauminzerG]]CharneyDSA clinician rating scale for assessing current and lifetime PTSD: The CAPS-1Behav Therapist199013187 &NA; Defeat may serve as well as victoryTo shake the soul and let the glory out.—Edwin Markham
