The relationship between psychotic symptoms and aggressive behaviors among inpatients with schizophrenia: A...

Aggressive behaviors are prevalent and consistently linked with experiencing psychotic symptoms among patients with schizophrenia. However, the associations between dimensions of psychotic symptoms and specific types of aggressive behaviors need further investigation. The primary purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between psychotic symptoms and aggressive behaviors in a sample of patients with schizophrenia.

This study used a cross-sectional, correlational design. A convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit 222 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The study findings revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between all dimensions of psychotic symptoms and all subtypes of aggressive behaviors. All dimensions of psychotic symptoms were found to be statistically significant predictors (p < .00001) for all subtypes of aggressive behaviors in regression analyses.

This study's findings highlight the significant role of dimensions of psychotic symptoms as predictors of aggressive behavior subtypes. These results emphasize the need to design practical measures that aid in controlling psychotic symptoms and mitigating aggression in the schizophrenia context. Investigating the predictive role of psychotic symptoms on certain subtypes of aggressive behaviors could help psychiatric nurses identify high-risk patients and develop timely and proactive interventions that address aggression and promote safety.