TY - JOUR PY - 2000// TI - Relationship between psychotic disorders in adolescence and criminally violent behaviour. A retrospective examination JO - British journal of psychiatry A1 - Clare, P. A1 - Bailey, S. A1 - Clark, A. SP - 275 EP - 279 VL - 177 IS - N2 - BACKGROUND: The interaction between psychosis and violence in adults is an important area of research receiving attention. To date there is little available data examining this relationship in adolescence. AIMS: To investigate the possible relationships between criminally violent types of behaviour, and psychopathology and social factors, among adolescents suffering from a psychotic disorder. METHOD: A retrospective case note study of 39 in-patients diagnosed as having a psychotic disorder and admitted to one of two adolescent psychiatry units (one secure, one open). Cases were divided into a 'violent' and a 'non-violent' group, and these two groups were then compared for social and psychopathological variables. RESULTS: There was no association between recorded psychopathology and criminally violent behaviour. Criminally violent behaviour was associated with a history of emotional or physical abuse, contact with social or mental health services, and previous criminal behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: These findings fail to echo results of studies in adult schizophrenia; they suggest that violent behaviour in psychosis is associated more closely with social factors than with specific symptoms of the psychotic illness. Potential explanations are discussed.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0007-1250 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -