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Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction 5/2023

10-03-2022 | Substance Abuse | Original Article

Understanding the Role of Adult Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Perpetrating Violent Acts: In the Presence of Unmet Needs for Mental Health Services

Authors: Ruaa Al Juboori, Divya S. Subramaniam, Leslie Hinyard

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction | Issue 5/2023

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Abstract

This study explored the association between unmet need for mental health services, health insurance, substance abuse, major depressive episode (MDE), and suicidal ideation in perpetrating violent acts. Cross-sectional data from a population-based study National Survey on Drug Use and Health of Adults (n = 42,567) in the US 2019 was used. Survey logistic regression was conducted to determine the predictive factors associated with attacks intended to seriously hurt others. This study found that prevalence of violent acts was only 1.1%. The odds of committing violent attacks were higher in those reported unmet needs for mental health services, suicidal ideation, MDE, alcohol, and other illicit drug abuse. In the presence of unmet need for mental health services, there were significant interaction terms between predictors and violence perpetration. Study findings highlight the importance of developing future targeted substance use and major depression treatment efforts among violent adults.
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Metadata
Title
Understanding the Role of Adult Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Perpetrating Violent Acts: In the Presence of Unmet Needs for Mental Health Services
Authors
Ruaa Al Juboori
Divya S. Subramaniam
Leslie Hinyard
Publication date
10-03-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction / Issue 5/2023
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00778-1

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