COMPARISON OF AGGRESSIVE AND NONAGGRESSIVE SCHIZOPHRENIC INPATIENTS MATCHED FOR AGE AND SEX

53 violent schizophrenic inpatients were matched with respect to age, gender and diagnosis to other patients that were being treated on the same ward and did not show any aggressive behaviour during the current treatment episode. Aggressive patients more frequently had a history of aggressive behaviour However, in the history of those patients clas sified as non-aggressive, in 70% of the men and 23%; of the women aggr essive behaviour was found. too. The duration of stay during the curre nt treatment episode was about twice as long among the aggressive pati ents. Substance abuse was found in 70% of the aggressive men and in 27 % of the aggressive women. In non-aggresive patients of both genders w ithout a history of aggresive behaviour, substance abuse was found onl y in 13%. These patients came from families with less children, the me n more frequently lived in permanent relationships and had a higher oc cupational status.