Aggressive behaviour in schizophrenia: the role of psychopathology.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the psychopathological correlates of aggressive behaviour in schizophrenia.


METHODS
Thirty-one aggressive patients in rehabilitation wards meeting DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia were compared with 31 matched non-aggressive patients in relation to their psychopathology using the Clinical Global Index (CGI), Positive and Negative Symptoms scale (PANSS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale.


RESULTS
The aggressive group had significantly higher CGI, positive symptom, negative symptom, general psychopathology and total PANSS scores than the non-aggressive group. The two groups could be distinguished by three sets of symptoms: symptoms with verbal or/and physical aggression as part of their definition; symptoms suggesting frontal lobe impairment; and excitement. The two groups did not differ in their level of depressive symptomatology.


CONCLUSIONS
The aggressive group were overall more ill than the non-aggressive group, and the former could be distinguished from the latter by certain aspects of their psychopathology.
Cheung
P
P
University of Melbourne, Australia.
Schweitzer
I
I
Crowley
K
K
Tuckwell
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011599:Psychopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology