2772 – Legal and Psychological Correlations of Aggressive Behaviors in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Aggressive behaviors in schizophrenia generate interest not only experts taking care of treatment, but also lawyers and public opinion. For the best part of society incidence of aggressive behaviors suggest that aggressive person is mentally ill. This oversimplification is one of the most important factors which lead to stigmatization and social isolation patients suffering from schizophrenia. Researches indicate that acts of aggression occur more often in the course of schizophrenia than in another mental disorders and it is being connected with psychopathological symptoms, personality traits and social environment. Sparse data suggest also as a reason of it worse functioning of frontal lobes in these patients, which may manifest itself in the form of emotional disturbances. The most typical symptom in this domain is liability of mood leading which can lead to aggressive behaviors. in the literature, however, there is no model that would explain precisely connection of all of these factors with aggression in schizophrenia.

Based on the results obtained to the correlates of aggression, understood as a possible cause of violent behavior in schizophrenia, we developed four models regarding to the treatment and the legal aspects of dealing with excited and aggressive patient. in our studies we included the proceedings after receiving the approval of the patient, in the case of not getting permission (approval) - after obtaining permission the court, or - in urgent cases - after receiving a positive opinion of two psychiatrists or a psychiatrist in consultation with the psychologist.