Correlations of self-directed violence in acute schizophrenics with clinical ratings and personality measures.

Abstract

Schizophrenic patients admitted to an acute inpatient unit were evaluated with the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS), items reflecting hostility from the same scale, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and the Socialization and Self-Control scales of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). Incidents of violent and nonviolent suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation before admission, and assaultiveness against self subsequent to admission were recorded. It was determined that behavioral ratings of degree of schizophrenic symptoms on the CPRS are more highly likely than ratings of hostility to correlate with self-directed violence before and subsequent to admission. Personality measures that reflect violence toward others (Psychoticism on the EPQ and Socialization on the CPI) also correlate with violence toward self.