TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychiatric diagnosis and aggression before acute hospitalisation
AU - Colasanti, A.
AU - Natoli, A.
AU - Moliterno, D.
AU - Rossattini, M.
AU - De Gaspari, I. F.
AU - Mauri, M. C.
PY - 2008/9
Y1 - 2008/9
N2 - Objective: To examine the predictors of aggressive behaviours occurring before acute hospitalisation. Methods: We analysed 350 acute admissions to a psychiatric ward during a 12-month period. The diagnoses were formulated according to the DSM IV axis I and II criteria. Aggressive behaviours occurring in the week before admission were retrospectively assessed using the modified overt aggression scale. The patients' clinical and sociodemographic variables, concurrent drug or alcohol abuse, and admission status were recorded at the time of admission. Results: Aggressive and violent behaviours were highly prevalent, respectively, in 45% and 33% of the cases. Violence before admission was independently associated with drug abuse, involuntary admission status, and severe psychopathology. A diagnosis of a psychotic disorder did not increase the risk of aggression or violence, compared to the other psychiatric diagnoses. Personality disorders were significantly more associated to aggressive behaviours than psychotic disorders. Conclusion: The diagnosis of psychotic disorder is a poor predictor of aggression in a sample of psychiatric patients. Other clinical and non-clinical variables are associated to aggression before hospitalisation: they include drug abuse, involuntary admission status, general severity of symptoms, and diagnosis of personality disorder.
AB - Objective: To examine the predictors of aggressive behaviours occurring before acute hospitalisation. Methods: We analysed 350 acute admissions to a psychiatric ward during a 12-month period. The diagnoses were formulated according to the DSM IV axis I and II criteria. Aggressive behaviours occurring in the week before admission were retrospectively assessed using the modified overt aggression scale. The patients' clinical and sociodemographic variables, concurrent drug or alcohol abuse, and admission status were recorded at the time of admission. Results: Aggressive and violent behaviours were highly prevalent, respectively, in 45% and 33% of the cases. Violence before admission was independently associated with drug abuse, involuntary admission status, and severe psychopathology. A diagnosis of a psychotic disorder did not increase the risk of aggression or violence, compared to the other psychiatric diagnoses. Personality disorders were significantly more associated to aggressive behaviours than psychotic disorders. Conclusion: The diagnosis of psychotic disorder is a poor predictor of aggression in a sample of psychiatric patients. Other clinical and non-clinical variables are associated to aggression before hospitalisation: they include drug abuse, involuntary admission status, general severity of symptoms, and diagnosis of personality disorder.
KW - Addiction (consumption/abuse/dependence)
KW - Psychiatry in Europe
KW - Psychometry and assessments in psychiatry
KW - Schizophrenia and psychosis
KW - Violence
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U2 - 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.09.005
DO - 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2007.09.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 18024087
AN - SCOPUS:51449101070
VL - 23
SP - 441
EP - 448
JO - Psychiatrie et Psychobiologie
JF - Psychiatrie et Psychobiologie
SN - 0924-9338
IS - 6
ER -