Characteristic hostility in schizophrenic outpatients.
In this study of 133 schizophrenic outpatients, we assessed characteristic hostility and correlates of hostility over a 6-month period. Results showed that 13 percent of the study group were characteristically violent, 18 percent were characteristically threatening, and another 21 percent were irritable and argumentative. About half (48%) were without hostility. A multiple regression model identified six variables--housing instability, hallucinations or delusions, schizoaffective diagnosis, lack of depression, alcohol use, and bizarre behavior--that together accounted for over 50 percent of the variance in observed characteristic hostility. Hostility also predicted rehospitalization and total inpatient days during 1-year followup. Implications of these findings for assessment and future research are discussed.
Bartels
S J
SJ
New Hampshire-Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Lebanon, NH.
Drake
R E
RE
Wallach
M A
MA
Freeman
D H
DH
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population