Frequency, Severity and Types of Aggressive Behavior among Patients with Schizophrenia at Psychiatry Outpatients Clinic in Comparison to Normal Controls

Background: Aggression in schizophrenia is heterogeneous in its origin and manifestations. People with schizophrenia are more likely to be violent than members of the general population. Objectives: The present study aimed to assessing the frequency, severity and types of aggressive behavior among a sample of patients with schizophrenia at psychiatry outpatients’ clinic in comparison to normal controls. Methods: The Arabic version of modified overt aggressive scale (MOAS) was used to assess aggression in 30 patients with schizophrenia who all attended the psychiatric outpatient clinic in Suez Canal University hospital and 30 participants as controls. Results: All patients showed variable degrees of verbal aggression, aggression against property and physical aggression; 80% of patients showed auto aggression. It was found that modified overt aggressive scale total score was higher in patient group compared to control group. Conclusion: Aggression is a common complication in schizophrenia when compared with the control group. All cases showed variable degrees of various types of aggression.