hese individuals are more hostile or violent to the people or persons close to them. According to K. Taridiff, (1984), "people with severe depression are often dependent on family for care. Within the family, the person most involved in the depressed persons care usually the mother is most at risk, with violent person usually being a son or spouse. One study of patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals found that, among those who had attacked people during the time close to their admission, 65 percent of the sample had attacked a family member." (p.37)Still, there has not been any solid data linking depression to criminal behavior, only very violent behavior. But, does violent behavior lead to criminal behavior? Research has shown no clear cut relationship between violent behavior from depression and normal criminal behavior. We do know that depression sufferers suffered in childhood, in the forms of sexual or physical abuse or neglect has long term consequences, leading to depression related problems in later life and cycles of familial violence is passed on from generation to generation. These people will continue to go through this cycle if not treated and in most cases, dangerous or violent acts committed by persons with depression disorders are mainly the result of neglect or inappropriate or inadequate treatment. We must understand most depression can and is most commonly treated by counseling and that depression is not a mental illness, but an affective disorders that may lead to criminal behavior. Yes, depression is serious problem in and of itself, is a risk factor for aggression and possibly even for criminal behavior. Mental Illness and ViolenceViolence conditions for depression and mental illness are the same, whether a person has a mental illness or not. Studies of violence and mental illness has shown that people with a mental illness who came from violent backgrounds are often violent themselves. Often violen...
