Correlates of dangerous behavior by schizophrenics in hospital.

An evaluation of correlates of inpatient dangerous behavior in a schizophrenic population is presented. Potential correlates included: neuroleptic serum levels, admission schizophrenic symptoms on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), act leading to admission, military experience, and childhood discipline. A multiple regression analysis indicated that the best correlate of inpatient physical assaults, verbal assaults, and total number of inpatient dangerous acts in our population was low neuroleptic serum levels. The best predictor of seclusion and restraint was severity of Vietnam combat. Additional significant correlates included degree of schizophrenic symptoms on the BPRS and history of violence prior to admission. Three factors: neuroleptic serum level, degree of schizophrenic symptoms, and violence prior to admission accounted for 49% of the sample variance for inpatient assaults.