title: Dangerous behaviour preceding first admissions for schizophrenia.
abstract: Of 253 patients in their first schizophrenic episode, 52 behaved in a way threatening to the lives of others before their admission to hospital. These 52 patients were studied from data collected at the time of their initial presentation. Despite a history of illness in excess of 1 year in 24 cases, and evidence that violence was motivated by psychotic symptoms in 23 cases, fewer than half of the patients were admitted to hospital as a direct result of their dangerous behaviour. Life-threatening behaviour was more common where the patient had been ill for longer, and where there were delusions of being poisoned.
authors.affiliation: Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: MacMillan
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D006113:United Kingdom; D014754:Violence