Over half of all workplace attackers (n = 30, 59%) were found to have experienced mental health symptoms prior to their attack.
Sample (n = 30 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
Over half of all workplace attackers (n = 30, 59%) were found to have experienced mental health symptoms prior to their attack
Psychosis was found in 15 attackers, evidenced by delusions and hallucinations.
Sample (n = 15 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
including psychosis (n = 15)
Delusions are false, idiosyncratic beliefs that are maintained despite evidence to the contrary.
which are false, idiosyncratic beliefs that are firmly maintained despite evidence to the contrary
Hallucinations are sensory perceptions that seem real but occur without any external stimulation.
sensory perceptions that seem real but occur without any external stimulation
Hallucinations were experienced by five attackers (n = 5).
Sample (n = 5 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
hallucinations (n = 5)
Paranoid delusions were the most common type of delusional belief experienced by attackers.
Paranoid delusions were the most common type of delusional beliefs experienced by attackers
Auditory hallucinations, such as hearing voices, were the most common form of hallucination.
auditory hallucinations (e.g., hearing voices) were the most common form of hallucinations
Other symptoms included depression (n = 15).
Sample (n = 15 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
depression (n = 15)
Other symptoms included paranoia (n = 11).
Sample (n = 11 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
paranoia (n = 11)
Nearly two-fifths of attackers (n = 20, 39%) received a prior diagnosis or treatment for a mental health issue before the attack.
Sample (n = 20 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
Nearly two-fifths of attackers (n = 20, 39%) received a prior diagnosis or treatment for a mental health issue before the attack.
A warehouse employee used a forklift to block an exit before shooting coworkers with a revolver. On a call to police he described hearing voices since his teens, past treatment for psychosis, and a belief that a manager was attacking his mind.
used a forklift to block an exit before shooting coworkers with a revolver
The attacker claimed a manager was a powerful psychic attacking his mind and cited this as a contributing factor to his motive.
which he cited as a contributing factor to his motive
Attackers who targeted a current or former workplace had a higher proportion of mental health struggles (n = 14, 64%) than other attackers.
Sample (n = 14 of 22) · current or former employee attackers (22 attacks, each by a lone attacker)
attackers who targeted a current or former place of employment experienced a higher proportion (n = 14, 64%) of mental health struggles than other attackers
Employee attackers experienced the most paranoia (n = 9, 41%) compared to other attacker categories.
Sample (n = 9 of 22) · current or former employee attackers (22 attacks, each by a lone attacker)
Employee attackers experienced the most paranoia (n = 9, 41%) and psychosis (n = 9, 41%)
Employee attackers also had psychosis (n = 9, 41%), compared to other attacker categories.
Sample (n = 9 of 22) · current or former employee attackers (22 attacks, each by a lone attacker)
and psychosis (n = 9, 41%)
Employee attackers had delusional beliefs (n = 5, 23%).
Sample (n = 5 of 22) · current or former employee attackers (22 attacks, each by a lone attacker)
including delusional beliefs (n = 5, 23%)
Employee attackers had hallucinations (n = 4, 18%).
Sample (n = 4 of 22) · current or former employee attackers (22 attacks, each by a lone attacker)
hallucinations (n = 4, 18%)
Attackers who targeted romantic partners or family members had higher rates of depression (n = 4, 44%) than others.
Sample (n = 4 of 9) · attacks by current or former romantic partners or relatives (9 attacks, each by a lone attacker)
this group had higher rates of depression (n = 4, 44%) and suicidal ideation (n = 3, 33%) than others
The same group had higher rates of suicidal ideation (n = 3, 33%) than others.
Sample (n = 3 of 9) · attacks by current or former romantic partners or relatives (9 attacks, each by a lone attacker)
and suicidal ideation (n = 3, 33%) than others
Evidence of suicidal ideation existed for only three employee attackers.
Although there was evidence of suicidal ideation for only three employee attackers
Employee attacks often culminated in the attacker's death, either by suicide (55%) or by law enforcement response (23%).
Sample (n = 12† of 22) · current or former employee attackers (22 attacks, each by a lone attacker)
employee attacks often culminated in the attacker's death, either by suicide (55%) or by law enforcement response (23%)
Figure 3 charts any mental health symptom, paranoia, psychosis, depression, and suicidal ideation for current or former employees, customers and visitors, and romantic partners or relatives.
FIGURE 3 Mental Health Symptoms
After the shooting, the gunman left the scene and contacted police.
The gunman then departed the scene and contacted police.
On the call, the attacker said he had heard voices since he was a teenager and had been treated for psychosis and schizophrenia.
On this call, the attacker told dispatchers that he had been hearing voices in his head since he was a teenager and that he had been previously treated for psychosis and schizophrenia.
The warehouse attacker who shot coworkers died by suicide later that evening.
The attacker died by suicide later that evening.
Figure 3 shows any mental health symptom in 64% of current or former employee attackers, 55% of customer, client, patient, and visitor attackers, and 56% of romantic partner and relative attackers.
Sample (N = 22 | 20 | 9 by column) · Figure 3 columns: employees 22 | customers, clients, patients, visitors 20 | partners and relatives 9
| Any | 64% | 55% | 56% |
Figure 3 shows paranoia in 41% of current or former employee attackers, 5% of customer, client, patient, and visitor attackers, and 11% of romantic partner and relative attackers.
Sample (N = 22 | 20 | 9 by column) · Figure 3 columns: employees 22 | customers, clients, patients, visitors 20 | partners and relatives 9
| Paranoia | 41% | 5% | 11% |
Figure 3 shows psychosis in 41% of current or former employee attackers, 20% of customer, client, patient, and visitor attackers, and 22% of romantic partner and relative attackers.
Sample (N = 22 | 20 | 9 by column) · Figure 3 columns: employees 22 | customers, clients, patients, visitors 20 | partners and relatives 9
| Psychosis | 41% | 20% | 22% |
Figure 3 shows depression in 32% of current or former employee attackers, 20% of customer, client, patient, and visitor attackers, and 44% of romantic partner and relative attackers.
Sample (N = 22 | 20 | 9 by column) · Figure 3 columns: employees 22 | customers, clients, patients, visitors 20 | partners and relatives 9
| Depression | 32% | 20% | 44% |
Figure 3 shows suicidal ideation in 14% of current or former employee attackers, 15% of customer, client, patient, and visitor attackers, and 33% of romantic partner and relative attackers.
Sample (N = 22 | 20 | 9 by column) · Figure 3 columns: employees 22 | customers, clients, patients, visitors 20 | partners and relatives 9
| Suicidal Ideation | 14% | 15% | 33% |
Six of the 51 workplace attackers experienced delusions (n = 6), evidencing psychosis.
Sample (n = 6 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
delusions (n = 6)
Nine of the 51 workplace attackers experienced suicidal ideations (n = 9).
Sample (n = 9 of 51) · attackers, all affiliation types
suicidal ideations (n = 9)
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