Rates of criminal victimisation in first episode psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study looking into the rates of crime-related victimisation in a population of individuals diagnosed with first episode psychosis.
IRAS ID
145862
Contact name
Rowena Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
BSMHFT
Research summary
There is a public misconception that people with mental illness are frequently a danger to others. However, there is a growing evidence-base which shows that people with mental illness are much more likely to be a victim than a perpetrator of crime, as well as having significantly higher rates of victimhood than the general population. Much of the research, however, comes from other countries such as the USA and Australia and there have been only a few studies based in the UK. This study aims to survey the rates of criminal victimisation in a population of young people with first episode psychosis; this population has not been specifically surveyed previously. It is clear from national crime surveys such as the British Crime Survey (now called the Crime Survey for England and Wales - CSEW), that younger people are more likely to be victims than their older counterparts. The hypothesis would therefore be that young people with first episode psychosis would be at particularly high risk of victimhood due to their age and mental illness. The sample population will be clients currently under the care of the Birmingham Early Intervention Service (EIS). Rates of victimisation will be ascertained by means of a questionnaire distributed to all patients by care coordinators. The questionnaire will be adapted from the CSEW which will enable direct comparison with the latest crime survey results matched for age and geographical location (West Midlands).
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/0059
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion