Distinctive and common risk factors contributing to violent offending in patients with schizophrenia compared to...

Studies have suggested that there are common violence risk factors in both patients with schizophrenia and the general population, a comparison of the characteristics of these two distinct groups could allow for a better understanding.

Forensic archives of criminal cases in a Chinese Forensic Centre from January 2015 to December 2019 were reviewed. The male criminal offenders were included and divided into four groups: ① violent and ② non-violent offenders with schizophrenia, and ③ violent and ④ non-violent offenders without mental illness. The sociodemographic, criminological, and clinical information were extracted from the archives, and the psychiatric symptoms, social function, and aggressive behaviors were quantified using the brief psychiatric rating scale, the social disability screening schedule, and the modified overt aggression scale. Data were compared between the four groups and the influencing factors for violence were examined.

Three hundred and twenty-one male offenders with schizophrenia (234 violent, 87 non-violent) and 186 male offenders without mental illness were included. Results showed that the violent offenses committed by patients with schizophrenia were more likely to target family members and relatives, occur in rural and public areas, and have fewer quarrels before the offense. Thought disorders and hostility-suspiciousness were identified as the violence risk factors for the patients with schizophrenia. Verbal aggression was a common violence risk factor in both patients with schizophrenia and the people without mental illness.

Violence prevention and intervention for patients with schizophrenia need to focus more on verbal aggression, thought disorders, and hostility-suspiciousness.