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,

SUBMITTER: Bhui K 

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

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature