Dataset Information

Extremism and common mental illness: cross-sectional community survey of White British and Pakistani men and women living in England.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Mental illnesses may explain vulnerability to develop extremist beliefs that can lead to violent protest and terrorism. Yet there is little evidence. AIMS:To investigate the relationship between mental illnesses and extremist beliefs. METHOD:Population survey of 618 White British and Pakistani people in England. Extremism was assessed by an established measure of sympathies for violent protest and terrorism (SVPT). Respondents with any positive scores (showing sympathies) were compared with those with all negative scores. We calculated associations between extremist sympathies and ICD-10 diagnoses of depression and dysthymia, and symptoms of anxiety, personality difficulties, autism and post-traumatic stress. Also considered were demographics, life events, social assets, political engagement and criminal convictions. RESULTS:SVPT were more common in those with major depression with dysthymia (risk ratio 4.07, 95% CI 1.37-12.05, P = 0.01), symptoms of anxiety (risk ratio 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15, P = 0.002) or post-traumatic stress (risk ratio 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05, P = 0.003). At greater risk of SVPT were: young adults (<21 versus ?21: risk ratio 3.05, 95% CI 1.31-7.06, P = 0.01), White British people (versus Pakistani people: risk ratio 2.24, 95% CI 1.25-4.02, P = 0.007) and those with criminal convictions (risk ratio 2.23, 95% CI 1.01-4.95, P = 0.048). No associations were found with life events, social assets and political engagement. CONCLUSION:Depression, dysthymia and symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress are associated with extremist sympathies.

SUBMITTER: Bhui K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7525107 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Extremism and common mental illness: cross-sectional community survey of White British and Pakistani men and women living in England.

Bhui Kamaldeep K Otis Michaela M Silva Maria Joao MJ Halvorsrud Kristoffer K Freestone Mark M Jones Edgar E

The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science 20201001 4

<h4>Background</h4>Mental illnesses may explain vulnerability to develop extremist beliefs that can lead to violent protest and terrorism. Yet there is little evidence.<h4>Aims</h4>To investigate the relationship between mental illnesses and extremist beliefs.<h4>Method</h4>Population survey of 618 White British and Pakistani people in England. Extremism was assessed by an established measure of sympathies for violent protest and terrorism (SVPT). Respondents with any positive scores (showing sy ...[more]

PMID: 30873926

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Project description:OBJECTIVES:This paper provides an in-depth account of general practitioners' (GPs) experiences of living and working with mental illness and distress, as part of a wider study reporting the barriers and facilitators to help-seeking for mental illness and burn-out, and sources of stress/distress for GP participants. DESIGN:Qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 47 GP participants. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, anonymised and imported into NVivo V.11 to facilitate data management. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis employing the constant comparative method. SETTING:England. PARTICIPANTS:A purposive sample of GP participants who self-identified as: (1) currently living with mental distress, (2) returning to work following treatment, (3) off sick or retired early as a result of mental distress or (4) without experience of mental distress. Interviews were conducted face to face or over the telephone. RESULTS:The findings report GP participants' in-depth experiences of distress and mental illness with many recollecting their distressing experiences and significant psychological and physical symptoms relating to chronic stress, anxiety, depression and/or burn-out, and a quarter articulating thoughts of suicide. Many talked about their shame, humiliation and embarrassment at their perceived inability to cope with the stresses of their job and/or their symptoms of mental illness. CONCLUSIONS:These findings paint a concerning picture of the situation affecting primary care doctors, with participants' accounts suggesting there is a considerable degree of mental ill health and reduced well-being among GPs. The solutions are complex and lie in prevention and provision. There needs to be greater recognition of the components and cumulative effect of occupational stressors for doctors, such as the increasing workload and the clinical and emotional demands of the job, as well as the need for a culture shift within medicine to more supportive and compassionate work environments.

Dataset Information

Extremism and common mental illness: cross-sectional community survey of White British and Pakistani men and women living in England.

Publications

Extremism and common mental illness: cross-sectional community survey of White British and Pakistani men and women living in England.

Similar Datasets

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