Violent criminal behavior in the context of bipolar disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis

•Even though one every fourteen patients suffering from bipolar disorder reported violent criminal behavior, the association with violent criminality was not significant in comparison with the general population.•The chance of committing violent criminal behavior was smaller in patients with bipolar disorder than in those suffering from psychotic disorders but higher in comparison with patients with depressive disorders.•In meta-regression analyses, no significant moderators emerged. The identification of potential moderators of the association between bipolar disorder and violence should be the focus of further research.