A decade ago, the Royal College of Psychiatrists published a report about offenders with personality disorder, which summarised the state of knowledge in the area. It was reviewed by Professor Tony Maden ^{Reference Maden1} who outlined the reluctance of the psychiatric profession to engage with this difficult group of patients and the paucity of research to guide treatment but hoped that the report pointed the way forward in terms of properly funded research and treatment programmes. What progress has been made in the intervening decade?

The answer is provided by this excellent book, which summarises the latest knowledge about violent offending and how it might be prevented and treated. Indeed it is clear that, as stated in the book, there has been an explosion of knowledge in this area in recent years. This volume seeks to bridge the divide between basic laboratory neuroscience and clinical science, and to highlight some of the key scientific challenges in the field of violent offending. It also deals with the difficulties of translating the scientific findings into policy and treatment strategies.

It is widely accepted that the risk of violence is influenced by a complex interplay of situational and dispositional factors – this book aims to elucidate their neurobiological basis. It discusses the hypothesis that genetic, social and other factors and their interactions contribute to changes in neurobiological structure and function, which in turn influence a developmental cascade of behaviours that eventually lead to violence.

Individuals following a life-course persistent pathway of antisocial behaviour are responsible for 50–70% of violent crime. This early onset and persistent antisocial behaviour has origins in neurodevelopmental deficits that begin very early in life. The differences between childhood onset and adolescence onset of violent behaviour and their implications are outlined. Furthermore, there is a very interesting discussion about children with callous unemotional traits. These theories are taken forward to the treatment implications in later chapters by considering the effectiveness of interventions in the different groups. The developmental perspective then continues into adulthood, with consideration of genetic and imaging studies in antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy.

Although the book is mostly concerned with conduct disorder, antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy, there is a great chapter about schizophrenia. It offers a useful framework for further investigation of causes and effective treatment by suggesting that there are three types of patients with schizophrenia who are violent: those with antisocial behaviour in childhood before illness onset; those who are repeatedly aggressive after the onset of illness; and those with chronic schizophrenia who have no history of violence but then later in their illness engage in serious violence (often homicide).

Another thought-provoking chapter that is directly relevant to clinical practice asks why programmes for offenders with personality disorder are not informed by the relevant findings. It puts forward the current evidence for treatment programmes in the criminal justice system and suggests they can be enhanced by consideration of the characteristics of antisocial personality disorder.

The book is aimed at neuroscientists, criminologists, psychologists and psychiatrists. There are good explanations throughout, making it accessible to multiple professions. My only criticism is that there is a degree of repetition between some of the chapters but this does serve to emphasise the important points and allows chapters to be easily read in isolation if needed.

This book will already be essential reading for all researchers in forensic mental health. It should also be read by clinicians who are involved in assessing and managing patients who present with a risk of violent behaviour. Importantly, I hope it is read by policy-makers in the criminal justice system and the health service.