Comparison of aggressive and non-aggressive schizophrenic inpatients matched for age and sex.

Abstract

53 violent schizophrenic inpatients were matched with respect to age, gender and diagnosis to other patients that were being treated on the same ward and did not show any aggressive behaviour during the current treatment episode. Aggressive patients more frequently had history of aggrcssive behaviour. However, in the history of those patients classified as non-aggressive, in 70% of the men and 23% of the women aggressive behaviour was found, too. The duration of stay during the current treatment episode was about twice as long among the aggressive patients. Substance abuse was found in 70% of the aggressive men and in 27% of the aggressive women. In non-aggresse patients of both genders without a history of aggressive behaviour, substance abuse was found only in 13%. These patients came from families with less children. the men more frequently lived in permanent relationships and had a higher occupational status.