Male-female differences in the setting and construction of violence among people with severe mental illness

Data from a sample of severely and persistently mentally ill involuntary pa tients indicated that differences in violence between males and females in the 4 months prior to hospital admission depended on the measure. In the bi variate analysis, males had a greater prevalence of violence on the two ind icators which separated more serious violence from lesser and no violence; but there was no gender difference on the more inclusive measure which inco rporated threats and fights not involving weapons or injuries. In multivari ate analysis when other relevant predictors were controlled, gender was sig nificant in predicting only the most inclusive indicator of violence and on ly in interaction with substance abuse problems.