"PERICOLOSO A SE' E AGLI ALTRI". Violenza, suicidio e disturbi mentali.
(A DANGER TO ONESELF AND TO OTHERS". Violence, suicide and mental illness).
Edited by Mario Di Fiorino

PSICHIATRIA E TERRITORIO, 2001, 304 pages, price € 25,82.


This volume, edited by Mario Di Fiorino, has been written by researchers dealing with aggressiveness and suicide for years. "A danger to oneself and to others", opens with a philosophical distinction between violence and the exertion of force, goes on to stress the link between self-inflicted aggressiveness and outwardly directed aggressiveness and recommends devoting equal attention to investigation into, research on and treatment of suicidal and violent behaviours.

The reference to mental illness in the title bounds the sphere of interest. Considerable emphasis is laid on the process, considered ideological, of minimizing the relationship between aggressiveness and mental illness that has influenced the work of mental health providers in the years following the introduction of Italian asylum law no. 180, and the consequences of deinstitutionalization, before which severe or problematic patients were removed from the psychiatric circuit.

The book suggests that the cultural climate is showing signs of change, starting from the USA, forcing psychiatrists to reconsider themselves subject to specific professional responsibility.

From semantics to psychometrics and the neurobiology of aggressiveness, the volume thoroughly deals with the impact on the community setting of aggressive manifestations by users and the difficulties and emotional consequences faced by mental health providers. The specificity of some populations, such as the elderly, is taken into consideration. The difficult issue of predicting social dangerousness is also addressed, in addition to pharmacological and other approaches to aggressive behaviour.

Although many ideological prejudices surrounding aggressiveness and mental illness have fallen by the wayside in recent years, Italy still lacks an adequate approach to the management of suicidal, aggressive and violent behaviour. There are still shortcomings in the training of psychiatrists and other professionals operating in psychiatric care and rehabilitation facilities.

The book seeks to return these topics to the discussion table, in the conviction that only the provision of adequate information will have any impact on clinical work with patients and their families.

(Paolo Scocco)