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History of violent behaviour and schizophrenia in different cultures

Analyses based on the WHO study on Determinants of Outcome of Severe Mental Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Jan Volavka ,
Eugene Laska ,
Sheryl Baker ,
Morris Meisner ,
Pal Czobor  and
Ilya Krivelevich
Jan Volavka*
Affiliation:
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and New York University Medical Center, New York
Eugene Laska
Affiliation:
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and New York University Medical Center, New York
Sheryl Baker
Affiliation:
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, New York
Morris Meisner
Affiliation:
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and New York University Medical Centre, New York
Pal Czobor
Affiliation:
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and New York University Medical Centre, New York
Ilya Krivelevich
Affiliation:
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, New York, USA
*
Dr J. Volavka, The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg. New York 10962, USA. Fax: (914) 359 7029
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Abstract

Background

Information on patterns and correlates of the violent behaviour of individuals with schizophrenia is largely limited to populations in developed countries. Data from a World Health Organization epidemiological study of schizophrenia and related disorders, the Determinants of Outcome of Severe Mental Disorders (DOSMD), presented an opportunity to study patterns of violence across multinational settings.

Method

Centres in 10 countries participated in the DOSMD study. An incidence sample of 1017 patients with schizophrenia who had their first-in-lifetime contact with a helping agency as a result of their psychotic symptoms was obtained. Data were available on their history of violent behaviour, substance use, and demographics.

Results

The occurrence rate of assault in the entire cohort was 20.6 per hundred, but the rate was three times higher in the developing countries (31.5 per hundred) than in the developed countries (10.5 per hundred). History of assault was associated with positive symptoms, such as excitement and auditory hallucinations, and with serious alcohol problems.

Conclusions

The cultural context and the specific characteristics of the disease in individuals with schizophrenia may interactively affect rates of violent behaviour.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 1 , July 1997 , pp. 9 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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