Study: People with bipolar disorder are not more likely to commit violent crimes

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Oxford University have found that having bipolar disorder does not increase an individual's chance of committing a violent crime. The condition causes extreme mood swings and shifts in energy and activity levels, making daily tasks difficult.

Researchers said that violent crime statistics stem from bipolar disorders patients who suffer from substance abuse. They found that bipolar individuals who were diagnosed with a severe history of substance abuse are four times more likely to commit a violent crime than those with no form of drug or alcohol abuse.

Researchers suggest that the findings support a need to identify, prevent and treat substance abuse when fighting violent crime. They added that a fear of mental illness can prevent people who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder from seeking the treatment they need, experts say. Programs for troubled youth can educate those who suffer from similar conditions and present them with positive goals.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 25 percent of Americans have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.