VIOLENCE, SENSATION SEEKING, AND IMPULSIVITY IN SCHIZOPHRENICS FOUND UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL

Many studies have confirmed an association between violent behavior, i mpulsivity, and sensation seeking in nonpsychotic subjects. Schizophre nic patients (n = 49) who had been found unfit to stand trial were inv estigated for violence, according to index offenses and longitudinal h istories (before and after admission) for violence. Those charged with violent offenses were significantly more often married with children, and were equally likely to direct their assaultiveness to strangers, acquaintances, and family members. The nature of the index offense see med to be a good indicator of general violent propensity. No significa nt differences were found on Barratt's Impulsivity Scale and Zuckerman 's Sensation Seeking Scale, except that schizophrenic patients with ne gative histories of violence scored higher on the thrill and adventure subscale. No pattern of substance abuse differentiated the groups. Pa tients charged with violent offenses more often presented with persecu tory delusions, but this did not extend to those whose histories were positive for repetitive violence. Although impulsivity and sensation s eeking do not seem to cause violent behavior in this group, psychopath ology can also only be regarded as a necessary but not sufficient dete rminant.