MethodsWe conducted a descriptive and analytical study, including the files of 30 patients with bipolar disorder and hospitalized for heteroaggressive behavior.
We collected the data related to the socio-demographic, anamnestic and clinical characteristics of the patients.
ResultsThe average age of patients was 40.87 years, with extremes ranging from 25 to 62 years. The patients were mostly male (60%), living in urban areas (80%) and single (60%). 66,67% of patients in our sample were professionally active.
Half of the patients in our study were consumers of alcohol or cannabis. The majority of patients were on sodium valproate (66.7%), a long-acting neuroleptic (60%) and a benzodiazepine (56.7%).
Heteroaggressive behavior was in most cases physical (63.3%), having taken place in the patient’s home (66.67%) and directed towards a family member in an impulsive context (53.33%). 63.3% of patients reoffended their act of violence.
We found statistically significant correlations between the recurrence of heteroaggressive behavior and advanced patient age (p=0.01), male sex (p=0.05), illiteracy (p=0 .04) and unemployment (p=0.04).
Our study also showed that the recidivism of violence was significantly correlated with the criminal history of the patients (p=0.04) as well as the consumption of alcohol and cannabis (p=0.01). The number of recurrences was proportionally correlated to the duration of consumption.
Recurrence of violence was also significantly higher in patients with psychiatric comorbidity (p=0.01) and poor treatment compliance (p=0.04).
Finally, the number of recurrences of heteroaggressivity was proportionally correlated to the number of hospitalizations (p= ˂10¯³).