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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Publications

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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Dataset Information

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

Background

Aims

Method

Results

Conclusion

Publications

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

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