Abstract
Background: Child abuse during childhood and the presence of parental alcohol abuse increase the risk of developing mental illness in children, as well as the risk of violent behavior in adulthood. The association of these factors has not been sufficiently investigated when it comes to forensic mental patients. In this study, we examined the impact of traumatic events in childhood and the presence of mental illness and alcohol abuse of parents in subjects with psychosis and schizophrenia who committed serious crimes.Methods: One-hundred and forty-three respondents were included in the current study. Information on childhood abuse was collected by Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The sample included participants diagnosed with psychotic disorders and schizophrenia with a history of violent behavior (PSCH-V, n = 20), patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders and schizophrenia without a history of violent behavior (Non-V-PSCH, n = 51), and healthy control patients (HC, n = 72). Participants were diagnosed according to the ICD 10 classification system. MINI and CAINS scales were used to confirm the diagnosis. Data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected. Differences between groups in terms of traumatic events in childhood as well as parental alcohol abuse are presented and analyzed, using descriptive statistical values and nonparametric techniques of inferential statistics.Results: Statistically significant differences were obtained for total scores (χ2 = 28.522, p < 0.001) as well as for (1) major upheaval between the parents (χ2 = 20.739, p < 0.001), (2) being victim of violence—other than sexual (χ2 = 12.701, p < 0.01), and (3) other major upheaval that may have shaped life or personality significantly (χ2 = 30.920, p < 0.001). PSCH-V, compared to HC, had greater exposure to all of the three domains of childhood trauma (U = 396.500, 436.500, and 376.000, respectively; p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained when Non V-PSCH were compared with HC (U = 1,223.000, 1,535.000, and 999.000, respectively; p < 0.001). The results indicated statistically insignificant differences between PSCH-V and Non-V-PSCH in having a family history of mental illness. On the other hand, family history of mental illness was less present in HC compared to PSCH-V (χ2 = 24.238, p < 0.001) and Non V-PSCH (χ2 = 14.456, p < 0.001). The presence of parental alcohol abuse was predominantly present in the PSCH-V group (60%) while a significantly lower presence was found in the Non-V PSCH group (35%) and HC (5.5%).Conclusion: Both PSCH-V and Non-V-PSCH groups had a high degree of exposure to traumatic events in childhood compared to the HC. In PSCH-V, the presence of parental alcohol abuse compared to Non-V-PSCH was dominant. Mental illness coupled with a history of violent behavior represents a factor of polyvictimization, which may increase the likelihood of violent behavior of offspring.
Highlights
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are considered an important risk factor for violence, since schizophrenia and psychosis patients are at small but significantly increased risk in engaging in violent behavior
Results showed that the PSCH-V group, compared to the Healthy controls (HC) group, had greater exposure to all of the three domains of childhood trauma
No statistically significant differences were found, the total CTQ score in the PSCH-V group was higher (103.5), in comparison to the Non-V-PSCH group (83.89). This suggests the presence of a larger number of traumatic events in childhood. This result is in accordance to the previous studies that have shown that the presence of a large number of traumatic events in childhood in one person affects the frequency of violent behaviors in the community [1, 2]
Summary
Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are considered an important risk factor for violence, since schizophrenia and psychosis patients are at small but significantly increased risk in engaging in violent behavior. Research has shown that individuals who have been exposed to traumatic childhood events, such as violence and abuse, are at increased risk of exhibiting violent behavior later in life. This phenomenon has been regarded as intergenerational transmission of violence. Child abuse during childhood and the presence of parental alcohol abuse increase the risk of developing mental illness in children, as well as the risk of violent behavior in adulthood. The association of these factors has not been sufficiently investigated when it comes to forensic mental patients. We examined the impact of traumatic events in childhood and the presence of mental illness and alcohol abuse of parents in subjects with psychosis and schizophrenia who committed serious crimes
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