Bi-polar disorder and possible associated violence

I've been thinking (uh-oh) about bi-polar disorder. Although I do not have bi-polar disorder, I have known of some who have this disorder. I've been thinking specifically about violence associated with it.

This is what I found so far:

The relationship between mental illness and violence is controversial. On the one hand, there is considerable unfounded stigma and discrimination toward the mentally ill based on the popular notion that psychiatric patients are dangerous people. On the other hand, there is a legitimate need for psychiatrists to identify and manage what risk of violence does exist in their patients. Research that examines how and why violence occurs in the mentally ill is necessary for psychiatrists to determine as accurately as possible which patients are prone to violence and to manage their care accordingly.

[link to www.psychiatrictimes.com]



If anyone else has experienced first hand, anything having to do with this, please feel free to share.

I have to step away for a bit, but I'll be back later.