Abstract
Background
Despite evidence of an increased risk of violence among adults suffering from psychosis, very little is currently known about
the relationship between early onset psychosis and aggressive behaviour. We aimed to identify and examine overlaps between
aggressive behaviour and psychosis in a referred child and adolescent sample to assess whether potential risk factors and
other associated features of this co-occurring pattern can be identified at a young age.
the relationship between early onset psychosis and aggressive behaviour. We aimed to identify and examine overlaps between
aggressive behaviour and psychosis in a referred child and adolescent sample to assess whether potential risk factors and
other associated features of this co-occurring pattern can be identified at a young age.
Methods
Standardised item sheet data on young people referred to the Child and Adolescent Department of the Maudsley Hospital between
1973 and 2004 were used to contrast three groups: (1) aggressive-only (n = 1,346), (2) psychosis-only (n = 173), and (3) co-occurring aggression and psychosis (n = 39) on a range of comorbid symptoms and potential risk factors.
1973 and 2004 were used to contrast three groups: (1) aggressive-only (n = 1,346), (2) psychosis-only (n = 173), and (3) co-occurring aggression and psychosis (n = 39) on a range of comorbid symptoms and potential risk factors.
Results
Co-occurring cases presented with elevated rates of depersonalisation/derealisation, intrusive thoughts and restlessness,
and were more likely to have received past treatment compared with both psychosis-only and aggressive-only cases. Although
co-occurring cases resembled the psychosis-only group in many domains, including socio-demographic background and rates of
emotional symptoms, they differed from ‘pure’ psychosis cases in having high levels of special educational needs, irritability,
non-aggressive antisocial behaviours, as well as being more likely to be from a low social class and have increased contact
with police and child care authorities.
and were more likely to have received past treatment compared with both psychosis-only and aggressive-only cases. Although
co-occurring cases resembled the psychosis-only group in many domains, including socio-demographic background and rates of
emotional symptoms, they differed from ‘pure’ psychosis cases in having high levels of special educational needs, irritability,
non-aggressive antisocial behaviours, as well as being more likely to be from a low social class and have increased contact
with police and child care authorities.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s00127-012-0480-2
- Authors
- Farah N. Khalid, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, Box Number PO46, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Tamsin Ford, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Veysey Building, Salmon Pool Lane, Exeter, EX2 4SG UK
- Barbara Maughan, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, Box Number PO46, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
- Online ISSN 1433-9285
- Print ISSN 0933-7954