TY - JOUR
T1 - Exposure to violence in childhood and risk of violence in adult schizophrenia
T2 - results from a multinational study
AU - Panariello, Fabio
AU - Zamparini, Manuel
AU - Picchioni, Marco
AU - Nielssen, Olav B.
AU - Heitzman, Janusz
AU - Iozzino, Laura
AU - Markewitz, Inga
AU - Wancata, Johannes
AU - de Girolamo, Giovanni
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - This study investigated the connection between childhood violence exposure and violent behavior in adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). The case-control study included 398 SSD patients: 221 cases with a history of severe interpersonal violence in the past and 177 controls with no history of violence. The findings indicated that cases were significantly more likely to report childhood exposure to all forms of witnessed or personally sustained violence both within and outside the family, with those who had witnessed intra-familial violence being more likely to assault a family member in adulthood. Cases reported exposure to violence before the age of 12 years significantly more frequently than controls, and those with early-life violence exposure were significantly more likely to report that they were in a state of intense anger when they behaved violently. A dose-response relationship was observed, with evidence of an increased risk of later violence when the exposure occurred before the age of 12 and an increased likelihood of intrafamilial violence. The evidence suggests that childhood violence exposure was associated with an increased risk of violent behavior in adult SSD patients, and early exposure was linked to an increased likelihood of physical violence occurring in states of intense anger.
AB - This study investigated the connection between childhood violence exposure and violent behavior in adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs). The case-control study included 398 SSD patients: 221 cases with a history of severe interpersonal violence in the past and 177 controls with no history of violence. The findings indicated that cases were significantly more likely to report childhood exposure to all forms of witnessed or personally sustained violence both within and outside the family, with those who had witnessed intra-familial violence being more likely to assault a family member in adulthood. Cases reported exposure to violence before the age of 12 years significantly more frequently than controls, and those with early-life violence exposure were significantly more likely to report that they were in a state of intense anger when they behaved violently. A dose-response relationship was observed, with evidence of an increased risk of later violence when the exposure occurred before the age of 12 and an increased likelihood of intrafamilial violence. The evidence suggests that childhood violence exposure was associated with an increased risk of violent behavior in adult SSD patients, and early exposure was linked to an increased likelihood of physical violence occurring in states of intense anger.
KW - Childhood adversity experiences
KW - Intense anger state
KW - Intrafamily violence
KW - Schizophrenia spectrum disorders
KW - Witnessed violence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85162033164&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115299
DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115299
M3 - Article
C2 - 37331069
AN - SCOPUS:85162033164
SN - 0165-1781
VL - 326
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Psychiatry Research
JF - Psychiatry Research
M1 - 115299
ER -