HUMAN VIOLENCE IS THE RESULT OF A COMPLICATED INTERACTION OF MANY FACTORS. SOME CAUSES OF VIOLENCE GIVEN HERE ARE EMOTIONS, EARLY ENVIRONMENT AND TRAINING, PARENTAL TEACHINGS, OBEDIENCE, PREJUDICE, AND PARANOID IDEAS. PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION OF A PATIENT WHO HAS EXHIBITED OR THREATENED VIOLENCE IS CONCERNED WITH THE MAJOR ISSUES OF POSSIBLE PROVOCATIONS OR DRUG PROBLEMS, CHRONIC PERSONALITY DIFFICULTIES, AND THE PATIENT'S WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE WITH TREATMENT. THE PSYCHIATRIST SHOULD ARRIVE AT A DESCRIPTIVE FORMULATION OF THE PATIENT'S PERSONALITY BEFORE DECIDING UPON A DIAGNOSIS. IN THE MANAGEMENT OF VIOLENT PATIENTS SEVERAL ISSUES MUST BE CONSIDERED. DISTINCTIONS MUST BE MADE BETWEEN PATIENTS WHO REFER THEMSELVES AND PATIENTS WHO ARE REFERRED BY OTHERS. OUTBURSTS OF VIOLENCE SHOULD ALWAYS BE FOLLOWED BY A CLINICAL DISCUSSION. IN ADDITION, PSYCHIATRIC WARDS SHOULD HAVE VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLICIES. SPECIALIZED FACILITIES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR THE TREATMENT OF VIOLENT PATIENTS. FOUR REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MFE)