[Violence in schizophrenia: a study of 60 cases].
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological studies suggest a positive but controversial correlation between the major mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia and delinquent or criminal acting out. aim : To study the occurrence of violence in patients with schizophrenia according to demographic, clinical and disease progression features.


METHODS
This retrospective study included all out-patients, consulting during a period of one month, suffering from schizophrenia for at least five years. The clinical and forensic history was obtained owing to a semi-structured interview with patients and their families, medical records and the passing of different scales.


RESULTS
Sixty patients were included. 46.7% (n=28) of patients had a violent behavior in the pre morbid period. Aggressiveness was noted as the first prodrome in 13.3% (n=8) of cases. 28 major acts of violence were committed by 30% (n=18) of patients regardless of the active period of disease. In 13.3% (n=8) of cases, these acts announced the disease. The majority of acts have been committed against a non-foreign person. Recurrence was noted in 44.4% (n=8) of patients. Several risk factors of violent behavior were found. Only prodromal aggression was associated with a poor prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Violences committed by patients with schizophrenia are attributed to a particular group of patients and do not have necessarily a pejorative prognostic value.
R
R
Rafrafi
L
L
Bahrini
L
L
Robbana
H
H
Bergaoui
W
W
Melki
Z
Z
El Hechmi
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*