Short communication, Note

Aggresiveness in Institutionalised Schizophrenic Patients and the Selection of Antipsychotics

Klementina Ružić
Tanja Frančišković
Zoran Šuković
Elizabeta Dadić Hero
Ika Rončević-Gržeta
Mirjana Graovac
Tija Žarković Palijan

Abstract

The selection of antipsychotics as medications used primarily for treating schizophrenia and disorders similar to schizophrenia is an important aspect of the treatment of forensic patients. This study examines the effect of antipsychotics selection (typical or atipycal) on the level of aggressiveness, side effects and the hospitalisation length. The research is conducted on 98 psychiatric patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or similar disorders (F 20-F 29) in two forensic psychiatric institutions. The patients committed aggressive criminal offence in state of insanity. The patients are currently treated in inpatient psychiatric institutions. The research was conducted by using the Aggressiveness Questionnaire (AG-87), the Simpson-Angus Scale for the assessment of extrapyramidal side effects, the Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale for the assesment of akathisia and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. The results show no significant difference between the groups of patients treated with typical and atypical antipsychotics in all the variables.

Keywords

forensic patients; schizophrenia; antipsychotics; aggressiveness; side effects

Hrčak ID:

64090

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/64090

Publication date:

31.1.2011.

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