Psychological Reactions of Victims of Violent Crime

Violent crime is on the increase. The 1992 British Survey (Mayhew et al, 1993) revealed that 4. 9% of men and 1. 9% of women experienced violent crime (excluding domestic and sexual assaults) in 1991. This represented a 24% increase on the 1981 figures. The true incidence is likely to be much higher. Hough & Mayhew (1985) found that only 23% of woundings, 11% of robberies and 26% of sexual offences were recorded in police crime. Research in accident and emergency departments (A&Es) has confirmed the magnitude of the 'dark figure' of unrecorded violent crime (Shepherd et al, 1987). Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey (Heizer et al, 1987) found that 2. 8% of a random sample of 2493 US adults were physically assaulted during the 18-month study period. Breslau et al (1991) studied 1007 young American adults of both sexes: 8. 3% reported having been physically assaulted, and 1. 6% having been raped. individuals are at increased risk of becoming victims of violence through their work. These include the police, bank employees and health professionals, particularly family practitioners, A&E doctors and nurses, and ambulance staff. O'Sullivan & Meagher (1995) surveyed 178 psychiatrists and found that 39% had been assaulted at work and 12% had been physically injured as a result. psychological reactions of victims of violent crime have much in common with those experienced by victims of other traumatic events, including major disasters. Although research on other traumatic stressors should stimulate the development of hypotheses that can be tested in studies of victims of violent crime, Green (1982) has cautioned against between different traumas in the of traumatic stress.