Neuropsychological Deficits and Violent Behavior in Incarcerated Schizophrenics

The authors studied 37 male schizophrenics in a county jail psychiatric unit. Subjects were classified as impaired or not according to Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery criteria. Twelve of the 37 patients were impaired. Violence ratings were made on inpatient behavior and adult criminal records. Impairment status was related to adult history of violence but not inpatient violence. The most violent patients (by criminal record) were from the impaired category.