The Cross-sectional Study On Violent Victimization Amongst Community-living Patients With Schizophrenia In Rural Areas

PurposePeople with schizophrenia had an increased risk of becoming victims of violence.However,previous research had predominately focused on patients with schizophrenia as the perpetrators,rather than the victims.Nevertheless,Violent victimization of people with schizophrenia had received little attention in China.This study explored the frequency of violent victimization amongst patients with community-living schizophrenia in rural areas in China and examined its risk factors and impact on quality of life and social function.MethodsTwenty-one township primary care services in Luoding country were chosen according to a random numbers table.Patients with schizophrenia who met the International Classification of Diseases-10(ICD-10)were eligible for this study and then sign the informed consent.Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed using a self-made questionnaire.Violent victimization and perpetration of dangerous behaviors among patients with schizophrenia were measured through questionnaires.We collected the data about clinical symptoms by using Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology(QIDS)and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale(BPRS),social function by the Sheehan Disability Scale(SDS)and quality of life by using World Health Organization Quality of Life(WHOQoL)through interviews.A total of 487 patients with schizophrenia participated in this study and the data collected were then statistically analyzed.Result1.The prevalence of experiencing violence for patients with schizophrenia living in the rural community was 18.9%.2.Patients who had violent victimization also had a history of dangerous behaviors,lower hospitalization rates,more severe anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms in univariate analysis.The result showed that in multiple logistic regression,more dangerous behaviors,severe anxiety symptoms and lower hospitalization rates were independently associated with violent victimization in patients with schizophrenia.3.After controlling for the above variables that significantly differed between the two groups,people with schizophrenia who had violent victimization had the lower social function.There was no statistical difference in quality of life between the two groups.4.There was no statistical difference in sexual violence,physical violence,and verbal threat among patients with schizophrenia as for different genders.5.There was no statistically significant difference in using of medication about antipsychotics,antidepressants,benzodiazepines,and mood stabilizers between the violent victimization group and non-violent victimization group in patients with schizophrenia.6.Among patients with schizophrenia who had experienced violence,54.3%patients had been the victims of violence perpetrated by family members and 52.1%patients had been the victims of violence perpetrated by others.ConclusionPatients with schizophrenia living in the rural community had a high prevalence of violent victimization.Patients with schizophrenia who had violent victimization associated with severe anxiety symptoms,a history of dangerous behaviors and lower hospitalization rates.The presence of victimization was significantly and negatively correlated with social function.There was no statistical difference in depressive symptoms,using of medication and quality of life between the violent victimization group and non-violent victimization group in patients with schizophrenia.There was no significant correlation between sexual and different types of violent victimization.Family members account for a larger proportion of perpetrators in violence against patients with schizophrenia.We should pay more attention to those patients experiencing violent victimization in the future.