The Link Between Offending Behavior and Mental Illness

Running head: THE LINK BETWEEN OFFENDING BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL ILLNESS
THE LINK BETWEEN OFFENDING BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL ILLNESS
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2THE LINK BETWEEN OFFENDING BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL ILLNESS
Introduction:
Psychiatry is a medical branch that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of
mental disorders, emotional disorders and behavioural disorders. Along with time and the
changes in the surrounding, a profound practice is noted (Kales, Gitlin&Lyketsos, 2015).
Medication seems to dominate psychiatry. According to conventional psychiatry approach, the
disease in the patient is the significance. They aim to find the medication to reduce symptoms.
They believe lifelong disease management since the cure is not possible. Also, the side effect of
this process is inevitable. One of the most discussed topics in psychology on a daily basis is the
relationship between offending behaviour and mental illness (Appignanesi, 2009). It is not a
recent subject of debate but exists for a long time. As early as the fifth century BC, the famous
Greek philosopher, Socrates has opined on the same aspect. According to him, the low rate of
mental disorder in the city is the cause of a low crime rate in Athens. There have been several
pieces of research to find the connection between mental illness and offending behaviour. The
essay aims to discuss the same, the effects of conventional psychiatry when accounting for the
link between offending behaviour and mental illness. The essay involves a critical understanding
of mental illness and its potential relationship to offending. Also, a range of different approaches
to mental health and offending within a theoretical framework will be discussed in the essay.
Critical understanding of mental illness and its potential relationship to
offending.
The role and function of psychiatry as a process for identifying and
diagnosingmental illness.
A psychiatrist is a doctor that holds the degree in psychiatry with an experience of
residency training. A psychiatrist performs several actions that are responsible for diagnosis,

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treatment and prevention of mental health disorders. The psychiatrist also prescribes medicine
and somatic therapy and function as per the patients suffering from mental health issues. While
discussing the roles and functions of psychiatry, it would be noteworthy to mention some of the
unique function of a psychiatrist in primary health care (Britain, 2001). A psychiatrist evaluates
difficultly, compounded psychiatrist challenges, they understand complex medical issues in a
psychiatric context and prescribe psychiatric medication and treatment regimens when in
complex situations.
Individuals, families and communities are often faced with experiences that change their
behaviour or mental state of mind. The psychiatry process is an integral part of health. The
psychiatrist has a facilitative role in assisting individual, families and communities. They help
them to mobilise their resource in the promotion, restoration, maintenance of their mental health.
Psychiatry is all social as well as biological (Leff, 2008). The brain and social environment are
connected to each other resulting in a behavioural pattern. Psychiatry process is to help people
overcome their mental health issues with the help of scientific methods that are known to the
psychiatrist. Through the interaction with the patients and the applying the psychological
theories, psychiatrists are able to understand the causes of the behaviour change.
Specific role and nature of the forensic element of the psychiatric service.
Forensic psychiatric is a particular area of identification as well as discussion along with
the guidance in regard to issues related to mental health and law. Hence, it is important as well as
fundamental to be aware of legislation that is responsible for the behaviour of the different
culture. In the psychiatrist service, the forensic elements are a relationship, individual and
cultural diversity, legal and ethical standard policy, professionalism and the type of scientific
knowledge and methods (Littlechild&Fearns, 2005). A person’s relationship has a significant
role to play in their mental condition. Similarly, culture has a significant role as well in people’s

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behaviour. People are brought up with several beliefs and customs depending on their culture.
Therefore, it is essential for the psychiatrist to understand the cultural background of the patient.
Also, the forensic aspect involves scientific knowledge and methods (Gudjonsson&Haward,
2016). There is certain limitation for every approach depending on the amount of treatment a
person is capable of in taking. Depending on the same, a psychiatrist cannot apply any method or
trial as per the doctor’s wish. There is a need for the psychiatrist to follow the law and abide by it
for the patient’s safety.
Identify the major mental illnesses as diagnostic categories.
The major diagnostic categories are formed by making a division between all possible
principal diagnoses into 25 mutually exclusive diagnosis areas. Psychotic disorders are the
diseases that can cause delusions, hallucinations and related such as bipolar disorder and
schizophrenia. Non-psychosis disorders are the issues that are related to neuroses such as
depressive disorders and anxiety. Some of the major mental illness as diagnostic categories are
anxiety disorders, mood disorder, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, dementia, and eating
disorders. Insight is significant in psychiatric illness. A person suffering from mental illness
need to have particular attention to insight. Major illness that is majorly linked to offending are
the both psychotic and non-psychotic disorders such as panic attack, anxiety, bipolar disorder
OCD and schizophrenia.
The links between mental illness and offending
It is very well known that mental health disorders or mental illness are a potential risk
factor for violent behaviour or offending behaviour. However, the link is not entirely explained
or given reason appropriately. According to studies, there are patterns found that can explain the
relationship between offending and mental illness. For pattern one, the offenders are the people
for whom crimes is a natural response to psychotic symptoms. This involves mostly delusions or