Many of us assume incorrectly that patients with mental illness tend to be more violent than those without mental issues. It is one of the many stigmas and incorrect information associated with the mentally ill.

However, a new study from Sweden studied 3,700 bipolar patients between 1973 and 2004 and compared them with 3,700 general population control subjects. The results of the study has been published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry and was carried out by researchers at Karolinska Institute and Oxford University.

The findings may surprise some. 5% of bipolar patients in the study who did not have a dependence on alcohol or drugs were convicted of violent crimes (3% in the control group) in comparison to 21% of bipolar patients who also concurrently were severely dependent on alcohol or drugs.

The research may provide for more attention in treating substance abuse in relation to violent crime. For more information about this study please visit http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/200201.php.