In This Issue

Suicides among Swiss men ages 18–43 declined after legislation halved the number of militia soldiers in 2003 and made it more difficult for soldiers to bring their weapons home after their discharge, thereby decreasing the number of army-issued firearms in homes. The decrease in suicide by shooting (figure) was only partially offset by suicides using other impulsive methods, primarily jumping in front of trains. Reisch et al. (p. 977) calculate that approximately 30 fewer Swiss men in this age group died by suicide each year, and the lower rate persisted for several years.

Gang members and other violent men in a large random sample of young British men had higher rates of most types of psychopathology than nonviolent men, and they were more likely to have themselves been victims of violent crimes. Compared to other violent men, the gang members had higher rates of frequent violent ruminations, substance dependence, antisocial personality disorder, suicide attempts, and mental health services. In locations with high levels of gang activity, Coid et al. (p. 985) recommend that mental health care providers inquire about gang membership. Further, adds Monahan in an editorial (p. 942), asking a gang member about violence potential may increase collaboration and enhance public safety (Psych Serv 2013; 64:410–415). Martone et al. (p. 994) report that the rate of substance use disorders was high, 47%, in an unselected sample of homicide defendants in a U.S. urban county and that other psychiatric diagnoses were most common among defendants over age 40. In children, violence can be a manifestation of the anger and irritability characteristic of Asperger’s disorder, as described in a Clinical Case Conference by Frank (p. 963).