[Violent behavior among hospitalized psychiatric patients. 1. Occurrence and psychopathology]

The majority of psychiatric patients are not violent during hospitalisation. A minority behave violently during hospitalisation on repeated occasions but violent episodes are mainly concerned and these do not result in corporeal injuries. Gross violence rarely occurs. Violence involves the caring staff most frequently and, more rarely, fellow patients. The patients who are most frequently violent are the most severely ill and untreated psychotic patients. The commonest diagnosis among the violent patients is schizophrenia. Younger patients are often violent. No sex differences exist for violent behaviour. Manic patients are rarely violent and depressive illness is negatively correlated with violence. Approximately 1/5 of the demented patients show violent behaviour. The review demonstrates many methodological deficiencies in the investigations mentioned and presents recommendations concerning the design of investigations in future investigations.