Document Type : Original research
Authors
1 F.I.B.M.S, Specialist psychiatrist at Azadi Teaching Hospital, Kirkuk, Iraq.
2 F.I.B.M.S, Consultant psychiatrist, AL Rashaad Training Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq.
Abstract
Background: Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous psychiatric disorder that includes subtypes with distinct behavioral profiles. The paranoid subtype, characterized by hostility and mistrust, is particularly associated with violent behavior. Forensic psychiatric services aim to manage such violence and reduce recidivism following discharge. This study aimed to identify patterns of violence among schizophrenic inpatients admitted to forensic units and compare them with those in general psychiatric wards.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al-Rashad Training Hospital in Baghdad from March to December 2020. Seventy male schizophrenic patients from the forensic unit were compared to seventy from ordinary therapeutic wards. Data on sociodemographics and violent behaviors were collected using the Modified Overt Aggression Scale.
Result: Violence-related admissions were significantly higher in the forensic group, with 37.1% for attempted murder and 21.4% for murder, compared to 5.7% and 0% in the ordinary ward (p < 0.001). However, post-admission assessments showed no significant difference in the expression of violence between groups. Surprisingly, the ordinary ward patients exhibited higher mean aggression scores.
Conclusions: While forensic patients were admitted due to more severe violent acts, both groups exhibited comparable violence levels after treatment. This suggests that clinical setting and care quality may influence post-admission aggression outcomes.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)
