Neurological soft signs and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics among patients with schizophrenia with and without a history of violence

Sağlam T., AKSOY POYRAZ C., Gökçay H., Öncü F.

Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, vol.32, no.2, pp.200-212, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 32 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/13218719.2023.2296474
  • Journal Name: Psychiatry, Psychology and Law
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, Criminal Justice Abstracts, HeinOnline-Law Journal Library, Psycinfo
  • Page Numbers: pp.200-212
  • Keywords: Crime, neurological soft signs, schizophrenia, violence
  • Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Neurological soft signs, considered to be an endophenotype in schizophrenia patients, have also been investigated in patients with schizophrenia as a clinical correlate of violent/aggressive behavior. We aimed to establish a homogeneous group in the context of violent behavior by including patients with schizophrenia who were admitted to a forensic psychiatry service and who were under protection. The pre-criminal employment rate for the case group was lower than that for the control group, and the history of substance abuse was significantly higher in criminal schizophrenia patients. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups when the neurological soft symptoms, PANSS scores, Stroop test scores, and other sociodemographic factors were compared.