In this review of the research literature on the associations of violence with psychiatric disorders, the studies are divided into four groups involving: (a) psychiatric disorders among criminal offenders; (b) violence of former psychiatric inpatients; (c) violence related to organic brain dysfunction; and (d) prediction of violence occurring among psychiatric patients. Considerable variability in rate and distribution of psychiatric disorders among criminal populations are indicated. A reversal of earlier research findings regarding relative rates of violence among patients and normals is discussed. Efforts to identify associations between organic cerebral damage and a propensity toward violence, and to cope with the general problem of the prediction of violence are also discussed.