Abstract
BackgroundViolence against patients with schizophrenia is very common, however it is rarely studied in China, especially in primary health care institutions of rural areas. Therefore, we investigated the frequency of violence against patients with community-living schizophrenia in rural China and examined its associated factors and impact on quality of life (QoL) and social function.MethodA survey was conducted among 487 patients with schizophrenia living in rural communities. Data about violent victimization experiences in the past 6 months, demographic information, and clinical characteristics were collected by questionnaires.ResultsWe found that 92 (18.9%) of 487 subjects experienced at least one type of violent event in the past 6 months. Logistic regression analysis suggested that a history of conducting dangerous behaviors(OR = 1.702, P = 0.02, 95%CI: 1.05–2.73), higher Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (anxiety domain) score (OR = 1.15, P = 0.02, 95%CI: 1.01–1.304) and lower hospitalization rates (OR = 0.89, P = 0.04, 95%CI: 0.81–0.99) were significantly associated with violent victimization in patients with schizophrenia. Analysis of covariance showed the victims of violence tended to have worse social function in patients with schizophrenia living in rural communities of China (P = 0.04).ConclusionsIndividuals with schizophrenia living in rural China had a high risk of being exposed to violence and violent victimization of patients with schizophrenia had adverse consequences for social function. More attention is needed for those patients experiencing violent events, because they are simultaneously possible to conduct dangerous behaviors.
Highlights
Violence against patients with schizophrenia is very common, it is rarely studied in China, especially in primary health care institutions of rural areas
Logistic regression analysis suggested that a history of conducting dangerous behaviors(OR = 1.702, P = 0.02, 95%CI: 1.05–2.73), higher Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale score (OR = 1.15, P = 0.02, 95%CI: 1.01– 1.304) and lower hospitalization rates (OR = 0.89, P = 0.04, 95%CI: 0.81–0.99) were significantly associated with violent victimization in patients with schizophrenia
Analysis of covariance showed the victims of violence tended to have worse social function in patients with schizophrenia living in rural communities of China (P = 0.04)
Summary
Violence against patients with schizophrenia is very common, it is rarely studied in China, especially in primary health care institutions of rural areas. Researchers concerned about violence perpetrated by persons with severe mental illness (SMI) in decades [1]. The public had a common perception that SMI such as schizophrenia were dangerous because they contributed to severe violence [2]. Past studies did not pay much attention to violent victimization of SMI compared with dangerous behaviors by the patients in recent years [4]. The one year prevalence of victimization was 16.8% in a study among patients with SMI in Taiwan, compared with 11.3% in the general population [6]. Prevalence rates of violent victimization in SMI in the past year ranged from 25.3 to 35.0% compared with 2.9% in the National Crime Victimization Survey during the same period [1]
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