A Swedish study that compared the criminal records of depressed individuals with those with no history of depression matched by age and sex revealed that those in the depressed group were three times more likely than the general population to commit violent crimes. Patients with schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and dementia have also been shown to be more likely to demonstrate aggressive behavior. Studies have revealed that irritability and anger figure prominently in mood disorders of children and adolescents, especially males, who have also been shown to be less able to control their expression of anger. Neurophysiological factors, such as underlying serotonergic deficiency, can also lead to depression and aggression. When treating those with depressive symptoms, it is important to consider the specific disorder in which the symptoms exist, as well as demographic and historical factors.

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