Examination of Psychotic-like Experiences in Men Applying for Gun License

Abstract

Firearms are among the leading causes of injury and death and are an important public health problem concerning mortality and morbidity. This study aims to examine psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) in individuals who apply for a gun license (GL) and investigate personality traits and impulsiveness that may be associated with PLEs in these individuals. The GL group comprised 130 individuals, and the control group comprised 60 individuals. Personality Belief Questionnaire-Short Form (PBQ-SF), Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences Scale-Positive Dimension (CAPE-P), Barrat Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Sociodemographic Data Form were used for analyzes. CAPE-P score did not differ between the GL and control groups. In the GL group, the regression analyses found a statistically significant relationship between the change in the CAPE-P score and, PBQ-SF Antisocial score and BIS-11 score. Evaluations for gun licenses are made cross-sectionally. Individuals try to show themselves well since the person's motivation is to obtain GL. In addition, evaluations are made based on the person's statement. Revising the laws on armament all over the world and in our country, increasing interventions to reduce individual armament, creating information and training programs for the society about the problems that can be caused by individual guns, increasing the efforts to prevent the illegal supply of guns, and ensuring that psychiatric evaluation can be made more longitudinally during GL recruitment can reduce individual armament and related problems in the world. It should also be noted that the problems that PLEs can potentially create in society also apply to gun license holders.