Aggressive incidents in first-episode psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Recent research has reported increased risk of aggressive incidents by individuals with psychotic illness.


OBJECTIVE
To examine acts of aggression in first-episode psychosis.


METHODS
Subjects with a first-episode psychosis were ascertained from a defined catchment area (Nottingham, UK) and reassessed at 3 years (n=166) using clinical interview, informants, health care and forensic records.


RESULTS
Of the subjects, 9.6% demonstrated at least one act of serious aggression (defined as weapon use, sexual assault or victim injury) during at least one psychotic episode and 23.5% demonstrated lesser acts of aggression (defined as all other acts of aggression). For all aggressive subjects (33.1%), unemployment (OR=3.6, 95% C11.6-8.0), comorbid substance misuse (OR=3.1, C1 1.1-8.8) and symptoms of overactivity at service contact (OR=6.9,C1 2.7-17.8) had independent effects on risk of aggression.


CONCLUSIONS
We confirmed some previously reported demographic and clinical associations with aggression in first-episode psychosis but no relationship with specific psychotic symptoms or diagnostic groups was observed.
Milton
J
J
East Midlands Centre for Forensic Mental Health, Leicester, UK. John.Milton@arnoldl.cnhc-tr.trent.nhs.uk
Amin
S
S
Singh
S P
SP
Harrison
G
G
Jones
P
P
Croudace
T
T
Medley
I
I
Brewin
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology