Evaluation of the clinical and aggressiveness levels of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in the period of compulsory protection and treatment

Schizophrenia, which is very common in society and causes significant disability with its chronic course, increases the risk of violence and aggression. In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate sociodemographic and psychopathological features and to evaluate the clinical status and aggressiveness of patients who were referred to Adana Dr. Ekrem Tok Mental Health and Diseases Hospital between 01.11.2016 and 31.01.2017 for the purpose of compulsory protection and treatment, who committed a crime and were previously diagnosed or newly diagnosed with schizophrenia. In this study, Sociodemographic Data and Forensic Unit Evaluation Form, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and Buss-Perry Aggression Scale (BPAS) were used to assess the level of clinical and aggression for the disease, sociodemographic data, and judicial history. The data of the patients with schizophrenia were collected by the investigator by face-to-face interviews between 1 and 3 days and 7 and 10 days following admission to the preservation clinic. According to our study results, all of 70 male patients with schizophrenia under compulsory protection and treatment process had potential for aggression. According to the differences between PANSS and BPAS subscales between 1 and 3 days and 7 and 10 days, there was a statistically significant difference between the subscales and total scores except for verbal aggression subscale (p <0.05). The total score of verbal aggression subscale for 1 and 3 days was more than the total score for 7 and 10 days. Based on our study results, we recommend medical, legal, and social implications to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia, aggression, and violent behaviors that patients may display.