Family Conflict and Violence by Persons with Serious Mental Illness: How Clinicians Can Intervene During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
- PMID: 35034993
- PMCID: PMC8751667
- DOI: 10.1007/s10615-021-00826-8
Family Conflict and Violence by Persons with Serious Mental Illness: How Clinicians Can Intervene During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Abstract
Although most persons living with serious mental illness (SMI) do not act violently, this population is at a modestly increased risk of engaging in violence, with family members being the most common victims. Consequently, evidence suggests that a sizable minority of family members-many of whom are caregivers-have experienced violence by their relative with SMI. The risk of conflict and violence in families of persons with SMI is likely currently heightened due to a range of challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., interruption in treatment services and the occurrence of arguments while sheltering in place together). As such, during the pandemic, it is particularly important that clinicians intervene with these populations to prevent conflict and violence and strengthen their relationships with each other. Based on available evidence, we recommend that clinical interventions aiming to do so address the following topics with family members and/or persons with SMI: mutual understanding; positive communication; effective problem-solving; symptoms and psychiatric crises; triggers to, and early warning signs of, anger and conflict; and strategies for de-escalating conflict and managing violent behavior. We offer suggestions for how clinicians can address these topics and recommend established clinical resources providing more guidance in this area.
Keywords: Aggression; Caregiving; Family psychoeducation; Psychiatric disorder; Schizophrenia.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2022.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
References
-
- Ahn BH, Kim JH, Oh S, Choi SS, Ahn SH, Kim SB. Clinical features of parricide in patients with schizophrenia. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;46:621–629. - PubMed
-
- Allen CM, Straus MA. Resources, power, and husband–wife violence. In: Strauss MA, Hotaling GT, editors. Social causes of husband-wife violence. University of Minnesota Press; 1980.
-
- Askola R, Louheranta O, Soininen P, Putkonen H, Åstedt-Kurki P, Paavilainen E. The offense as perceived by the parents of forensic psychiatric patients. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 2017;38:705–711. - PubMed
-
- Awad AG, Voruganti LN. The burden of schizophrenia on caregivers. PharmacoEconomics. 2008;26:149–162. - PubMed
-
- Binder RL, McNeil DE. Victims and families of violent psychiatric patients. The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. 1986;14:131–139. - PubMed
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Research Materials