[The dynamics between psychopathology, radicalization and extremism: vulnerabilities and risk management]

Abstract

Background: Part of the people who radicalize suffer from psychiatric symptoms and some of the people who resort to extremist violence have previously been in contact with mental health services. The question is how psychopathological characteristics can influence radicalization and what mental health professionals can do about this.

Aim: Provide insight into the interaction between psychopathology, radicalization, extremism and how mental health professionals can integrate vulnerabilities into treatment.

Method: Description of relevant literature.

Results: Although there are no direct links between psychopathology, radicalization and extremism, psychopathological characteristics can play a role in people’s susceptibility to extremist ideologies and movements. Disorder-specific vulnerabilities and matching risk management interventions have been described in the literature.

Conclusion: Mental health care providers could take these vulnerabilities into account in their treatment. There are also treatment options in forensic mental health care for people convicted of terrorist acts.