Factors Affecting Aggressive Behavior among Patients with Schizophrenia

Background: Acts of violence and aggression committed by patients with schizophrenia is a
major public health concern affecting patients, their families, treating clinicians as well as the
community at large. The aim of the study: was to assess factors affecting aggressive behavior
among patients with schizophrenia. Descriptive design was used to achieve the aim of this study.
Setting: El-Abbasia Mental Health Hospital. Subject: A convenience sample of 135 patients who
were hospitalized at above mentioned setting. Tools: Data were collected using structured
interview questionnaire tools, first tool was consisted of two parts to assess socio-demographic,
clinical characteristics and second tool was to assess factors affecting aggressive behavior among
patients with schizophrenia. Results: Majority of studied patients experience aggressive behavior
inside the hospital, verbal aggression was the most common form of aggression inside the
hospital, lessthan three fifth of patients with aggressive behavior was affected by moderate risk of
static factors, less than three fifth of studied patients was affected by moderate risk of clinical and
dynamic factors. Two third of patients with aggressive behavior was affected by mild risk of
health team related factors and moderate risk of unit and environmental related factors.
Conclusion: All the patients with schizophrenia understudy engaged in aggressive behaviors in
the hospital at least twice and the most common type of aggressive behavior among them was
verbal aggression .There are several factors that can affect and contribute to aggressive behavior
among patients with schizophrenia including static factors, clinical and dynamic factors, health
team related factors, unit and environmental related factors. Recommendations: This study
recommended that the necessity for training staff nurse to deal with aggressive behaviors and
to know when and how the use of coercive interventions, which might reduce recourse to
seclusion and restraints