The relationship between command hallucinations and violence.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between command hallucinations and violent behavior.


METHODS
One hundred and three psychiatric inpatients completed measures of command hallucinations, other psychotic symptoms, violent behavior, and social desirability response biases.


RESULTS
Thirty percent of the patients reported having had command hallucinations to harm others during the last year, and 22 percent of the patients reported they complied with such commands. Logistic regression analyses suggested that patients who experienced command hallucinations to harm others were more than twice as likely to be violent, even when the analysis controlled for demographic variables, history of substance abuse, and social desirability response biases.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the clinical utility of asking about command hallucinations when assessing the risk of violence in patients with major mental disorders.
McNiel
D E
DE
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0984, USA.
Eisner
J P
JP
Binder
R L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data