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Managing Aggression in Schizophrenia

Northside Hospital, 1000Jobnson Fery Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30342

Steven H. Littrell, LPC, MA

The Fielding Institute in Santa Barbara, California

Kimberly Littrell, APRN, CS, MS

The Promedica Research Center in Tucker, Georgia

Agitation and aggression are frequent behavioral manifestations of persons diagnosed with a psychiatric illness. Data from the Epidemiological Catchment Area study indicate that persons with schizophrenia have afour-fold increase for the risk of violent behavior in a 1-year period. Additional research indicates that acute psychosis is a consistent riskfactorfor the occurrence of violence; approximately 10% ofpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia display assaultive behavior within 2 weeks before hospital admission. In addition, 20% to 30% ofpatients who display psychotic symptoms engage in threats, verbal aggression, and property damage within the same period. Once hospitalized, 10% to 15% of these patients become physically assaultive, and 30% to 35% engage infear-inducing behaviors. Clearly, the management of aggression in patients with schizophrenia is an important consideration for nurses working with this population.

Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Vol. 5, No. 2, S9-S16 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/107839039900500211


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