scholarly journals Cortisol and Oxytocin Could Predict Covert Aggression in Some Psychotic Patients

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 760
Author(s):  
Elena Rodica Popescu ◽  
Suzana Semeniuc ◽  
Luminita Diana Hritcu ◽  
Cristina Elena Horhogea ◽  
Mihaela Claudia Spataru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Model ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Overt Aggression ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
The Moment ◽  
Overt Aggression Scale ◽  
Covert Aggression

Background: The covert or indirect type of aggression has a risk of converting in violent acts and, considering that, it is very important to identify it in order to apply effective preventive measures. In cases of psychotic patients, the risk of becoming violent is harder to predict, as even neuter stimuli may be perceived as threat and trigger aggression. Treating all the psychiatric patients as potential aggressive subjects is not the best preventive measure as only a few of them are aggressive and this measure may further enhance the stigma on mentally ill patients. There is a current need for better understanding of covert aggression and to find objective measures, such as biological markers, that could be indicative of potential violent behavior. In this work, we try to investigate the role of cortisol and oxytocin as potential biomarkers of aggression in patients with psychosis. Material and Methods: We analyzed the level of peripheral oxytocin (pg/mL) and cortisol level (ng/mL) in 28 psychotic patients (they were not on psychotropic treatment at the moment of admission and those with substance abuse or personality disorder were excluded from the study) and correlated it with the intensity of aggression reported by the patient (overt and covert type) using the Overt Covert Aggression Inventory and the level of observed aggression of the patient in the past 7 days (rated by the health care provider) using the Modified Overt Aggression Scale. Results: We found that psychotic patients with a higher level of covert aggression had a lower level of cortisol (61.05 ± 8.04 ng/mL vs. 216.33 ± 12.6.9 ng/mL, p ˂ 0.01) and a higher level of oxytocin (102.87 ± 39.26 vs. 70.01 ± 25.07, p = 0.01) when compared with patients with a lower level of covert aggression. Furthermore, we observed significant negative correlation between cortisol and covert aggression (r = −0.676, p < 0.001) and between oxytocin and covert type of aggression (r = 0.382, p = 0.04). Moreover, we found that a lower level of cortisol together with a higher level of oxytocin are significant predictors of a style of internalized manifestation of aggression, with the predictive model explaining 55% of the variant of the internalized manifestation of aggression (F (2.25) = 17.6, p < 0.001, β = 0.35, R2 = 55.2). We did not find significant correlations between cortisol and overt aggression, and neither between oxytocin and overt aggression. Positive correlations were also found between the overt type of self-reported aggression and overt aggression reported by the rater (r = 0.459, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The importance of a predictive model in understanding covert aggression is imperative and the results of our study show that oxytocin and cortisol warrant to be further investigated in establishing a definitive predictive model for covert aggression.

scholarly journals Prescribing Patterns of Psychotropic Drugs and Risk of Violent Behavior: A Prospective, Multicenter Study in Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 300-310
Author(s):  
E di Giacomo ◽  
A Stefana ◽  
V Candini ◽  
G Bianconi ◽  
L Canal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Psychotropic Drugs ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Prescribing Patterns ◽  
Overt Aggression ◽  
History Of ◽  
Axis I ◽  
Overt Aggression Scale

Abstract Background This prospective cohort study aimed at evaluating patterns of polypharmacy and aggressive and violent behavior during a 1-year follow-up in patients with severe mental disorders. Methods A total of 340 patients (125 inpatients from residential facilities and 215 outpatients) were evaluated at baseline with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I and II, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Specific Levels of Functioning scale, Brown-Goodwin Lifetime History of Aggression, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2. Aggressive behavior was rated every 15 days with the Modified Overt Aggression Scale and treatment compliance with the Medication Adherence Rating Scale. Results The whole sample was prescribed mainly antipsychotics with high levels of polypharmacy. Clozapine prescription and higher compliance were associated with lower levels of aggressive and violent behavior. Patients with a history of violence who took clozapine were prescribed the highest number of drugs. The patterns of cumulative Modified Overt Aggression Scale mean scores of patients taking clozapine (n = 46), other antipsychotics (n = 257), and no antipsychotics (n = 37) were significantly different (P = .001). Patients taking clozapine showed a time trend at 1-year follow-up (24 evaluations) indicating a significantly lower level of aggressive behavior. Patient higher compliance was also associated with lower Modified Overt Aggression Scale ratings during the 1-year follow-up. Conclusion Both inpatients and outpatients showed high levels of polypharmacy. Clozapine prescription was associated with lower Modified Overt Aggression Scale ratings compared with any other antipsychotics or other psychotropic drugs. Higher compliance was associated with lower levels of aggressive and violent behavior.

Overt Aggression Scale

1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart C. Yudofsky ◽  
Jonathan M. Silver ◽  
Wynn Jackson ◽  
Jean Endicott ◽  
Daniel Williams
Keyword(s):  
Overt Aggression ◽  
Overt Aggression Scale

Biogenic amine-related enzymes and personality variations in normals

1977 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Murphy ◽  
R. H. Belmaker ◽  
M. Buchsbaum ◽  
N. F. Martin ◽  
R. Ciaranello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biogenic Amine ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Amine Oxidase ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Personality Variables ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
Plasma Amine Oxidase ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Sensation Seeking Scale

SynopsisAltered activities of biogenic amine-related enzymes have been reported in some studies of patients with affective disorders and chronic schizophrenia. To evaluate whether any relationship between personality variations, including non-diagnosed psychopathology, and these enzymes might occur in non-psychiatric patients, 95 young adult volunteers were studied. Higher MMPI and Zuckerman sensation-seeking scale scores were found in male, but not female, volunteers with lower platelet and plasma amine oxidase activities. Males generally exhibited negative correlations, while females had positive correlations between the psychological test scores and amine oxidase activities. In contrast to the amine oxidase results, no associations were observed between plasma dopamine β-hydroxylase activities and the personality variables.

scholarly journals Violent behaviour in schizophrenia

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (5) ◽  
pp. 426-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Vevera ◽  
Alan Hubbard ◽  
Arnošt Veselý ◽  
Hana Papežová
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Overt Aggression ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Violent Behaviour ◽  
Stable Conditions ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Available Information ◽  
Overt Aggression Scale ◽  
Over Time

BackgroundA number of studies have reported increased violence in patients with schizophrenia.AimsTo determine the prevalence of violence among those with schizophrenia in samples from 1949, 1969, 1989 and 2000 in Prague (Czech Republic) and to examine trends in this behaviour.MethodRecords from 404 patients meeting DSM–IV criteria for schizophrenia were screened for violence (defined as 3 points on the Modified Overt Aggression Scale) from the first observed psychotic symptoms until the time of latest available information.ResultsLogistic regression revealed a marginally significant increase in violence only inthe 2000 cohort. Overall, violence was associated with schizophrenia in 41.8% of men and 32.7% of women, with no association between substance misuse and violence.ConclusionsThe violence rate found in our sample is expected to remain stable over time under stable conditions. Substance misuse is not the leading cause of violence among those with schizophrenia.

The role of psychosocial treatment in decreasing of future violence behavior risk in forensicly treated psychiatric patients

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 783-783
Author(s):  
S. Jonovska ◽  
V.Š. Jengić ◽  
L. Safner ◽  
G. Bošković ◽  
S. Zudenigo
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Psychosocial Treatment ◽  
Violence Risk ◽  
Forensic Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Forensic Treatment ◽  
Aggression Questionnaire ◽  
Schizophrenic Group ◽  
Forensic Psychiatric ◽  
In The Beginning

The main aim of this study was to establish to what extent psychosocial treatment as a part of complex, multicomponent forensic treatment has an influence on decreasing of the future violence behavior risk in population of forensic psychiatric patients. We examinated 13 patients treated on Department of Forensic Psychiatry of Psychiatric Hospital Rab in Rab, Croatia. 9 of them were males and 4 of them females, 25–60 years of age, all of them were compulsory hospitalized because of committed criminal act connected with violent behavior. All of them have diagnosis of schizophrenic group of diseases with different duration of forensic treatment (from few months to few years). During 2010. all of them participated in psychosocial programe workshops once a week, for 6 months.MethodsViolence Risk Screening-10 (V-RISK-10), subjective measure of the programme chairmen performed in the beginning and in the end of the programme. The Aggression Questionnaire and Daily Spiritual Experience Scale as self-assesment scales were performed in the end of the programme. Results point on decreasing of V-RISK-10 results in the end of the programe in all participants. Interested observation was that mentioned results and those on self-assesment scales were not always been correlated positively. We also proved negative correlation between aggressivity and spirituality. As a conclusion, we have indications to believe that is real to expect that comining psychosocial treatment with targeted psuchopharmacological interventions could leed to decreasing the risk of future violent bihevior in forensicly treated psuchiatric patients.

scholarly journals Estudio farmacogenómico en Trastorno Límite de Personalidad.

2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 58-64
Author(s):  
Hernán Silva ◽  
Patricia Iturra ◽  
Aldo Solari ◽  
Juana Villarroel ◽  
Sonia Jerez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overt Aggression ◽  
Overt Aggression Scale

Antecedentes: Las conductas agresivas e impulsivas han sido asociadas con disfunciones del sistema serotoninérgicocentral. Polimorfismos del transportador de serotonina, de la triptófano hidroxilasa (TPH1) y de los receptoresserotoninérgicos 5HT1B y 5HT2C han sido vinculados a agresión e impulsividad. Varios estudios en depresiónmayor han demostrado que el alelo corto (S) del promotor del gen transportador de serotonina se asocia a una peorrespuesta a los inhibidores selectivos de la recaptación de serotonina (ISRS). Material y métodos: En este estudiose investigó la asociación entre la respuesta de la impulsividad al tratamiento con fluoxetina y polimorfismos deltransportador de serotonina, TPH1 y de los receptores 5HT1B y 5HT2C, en 49 pacientes con trastorno límite depersonalidad. Resultados: Los pacientes con el genotipo L/L del promotor del gen transportador de serotonina,evaluados mediante la Overt Aggression Scale-Modified (OAS-M), tuvieron una respuesta a fluoxetinasignificativamente mejor que los portadores del alelo S. No se encontró asociación entre la respuesta a fluoxetina ylos genotipos de TPH1 y de los receptores 5HT1B y 5HT2C. Conclusiones: Este es el primer estudio en el que seevalúa la asociación entre estos polimorfismos y la respuesta anti-impulsiva a la fluoxetina en pacientes con trastornolímite de personalidad. El alelo S puede representar un factor común de peor respuesta a los ISRS en enfermedadesasociadas a una disfunción serotoninérgica. (Rev. Neuropsiquiatría 2008; 71: 58-64).

Correlates and Mediators of Dissociation: Towards a Transtheoretical Perspective

2020 ◽  
pp. 027623662095628
Author(s):  
Damla E. Aksen ◽  
Craig Polizzi ◽  
Steven Jay Lynn
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Unique Variance ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Bidirectional Relations ◽  
Mediational Role

We evaluated variables important to understanding dissociation ( N = 379 undergraduates). We investigated: (a) the correlations among dissociation and impulsivity, alexithymia, mindfulness, negative affect, neuroticism, sleep disturbances, and emotion dysregulation; (b) unique variance of these variables in statistically predicting dissociation scores; and (c) the statistical mediational role of emotion dysregulation and sleep in explaining dissociation. We found significant positive correlations between dissociation and emotion dysregulation, sleep, alexithymia, negative affect, impulsivity, and neuroticism as well as a significant negative correlation between mindfulness and dissociation, consistent with Lynn et al . Sleep, impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, and negative affect uniquely related to and explained significant variance in dissociation, in order from most to least variance accounted for. Sleep partially mediated the relation between emotion dysregulation and dissociation and the relation between impulsivity and dissociation. Emotion dysregulation partially mediated the relation between sleep and dissociation and the relation between impulsivity and dissociation. Additional findings provided support for bidirectional relations between sleep experiences and dissociation and emotion dysregulation and dissociation.

scholarly journals Presence and influence of trauma in inpatient psychiatric care

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Rachel B. Nowlin ◽  
Sarah K. Brown ◽  
Jessica R. Ingram ◽  
Amanda R. Drake ◽  
Johan R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Inpatient Psychiatric Care ◽  
Psychiatric Setting ◽  
Trauma Informed Care ◽  
Inpatient Settings ◽  
Positive Correlations

Background: Previous research indicates traumatic exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occur at a higher rate in people with severe mental illness (SMI) than in the general population, and co-occurring PTSD symptoms can worsen outcomes for patients with SMI.Objective: This study assessed the presence and influence of PTSD symptoms in individuals with SMI in an inpatient psychiatric setting, and rates of PTSD diagnoses in this population.Methods: Retrospective analysis of demographic information and behavioral health outcomes, using a representative sample of adult and geriatric inpatient psychiatric patients (N = 4,126).Results: This study found elevated PTSD symptoms in over 65% of patients, and significant positive correlations between PTSD symptomatology and behavioral and emotional dysfunction. This study also explored differences in patients with PTSD symptoms who did and did not receive a PTSD diagnosis, finding associations for admission severity, race, and gender.Conclusions: Traumatization and PTSD symptoms were prevalent in psychiatric inpatient settings, and had an impact on behavioral health outcomes. Recommendations include the use of PTSD screening in behavioral healthcare admission processes, and the furtherance of trauma-informed care for inpatient psychiatric patients with SMI, due to the volume of traumatization and PTSD symptoms in the population.

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