Assaultive behavior among psychiatric outpatients.

Of 2,916 patients evaluated by psychiatric residents in the outpatient clinics of two large private psychiatric hospitals, 3% had manifested recent assaultive behavior toward other persons. In over half the cases the target of assault was a family member other than a child. Patients more likely to be assaultive were young and male and had a diagnosis of childhood or adolescent disorder or personality disorder. The authors compare these results with those from studies of assault among inpatients and recommend that physicians in outpatient as well as inpatient settings be familiar with the management of assaultive patients.