Schizophrenia Daily News Blog

Conduct Disorder Link to Schizophrenia Violence

Schizophrenia can sometimes lead a person to become more aggressive or violent, although not in all cases. Researchers believe that conduct disorder is a comorbid condition that those with schizophrenia sometimes have. They found that in their study, men with schizophrenia commonly develop conduct disorder before they turn 15. They are still unsure of whether conduct disorder is a seperate and distinct disorder from schizophrenia or if instead it is something that often precedes the symptoms and development of schizophrenia.

"To investigate, Sheilagh Hodgins (King's College London, UK) and colleagues examined the consequences of CD in 248 men with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, aged an average of 39 years, who were assessed at discharge from hospital and on a further four occasions during the subsequent 2-year period. Of these, 52 had been diagnosed with CD. A diagnosis of CD increased the number of non-violent offences 3.7 fold, while violent offences were increased 2.6 fold, in comparison with schizophrenic patients without CD" (PsychiatrySource.com).

Conduct disorder was also found to precede aggressiveness, alcohol and drug abuse, early development of schizophrenia, long hospital stays once an adult. The development of conduct disorder before age 15 had a lasting impact on the aggressiveness of those with schizophrenia, even when they received treatment for it. Antisocial behavior was also common in those suffering from schizophrenia. Treating substance abuse problems did not have an effect on antisocial behavior.

There was evidence that conduct disorder is a seperate disorder from schizophrenia due to the fact that they found no link between the amount of symptoms of conduct disorder and the amount of positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Nor was there a link between conduct disorder symptoms and adhering to medication, or hospital readmittance. The researchers involved in this study hypothesize that there is a link between conduct disorder and schizophrenia, because those who have a genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia are more likely to have certain environmental events occur around them that may lead to a conduct disorder.

SOURCE: Conduct disorder linked to schizophrenia violence and criminality. PsychiatrySource.com September 26, 2005.

This research article was published in Schizophr Res 2005; 78: 323–335

To learn more about conduct disorder go to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Conduct Disorder-Conduct Disorder page.

Also check out the NYU Child Study Center for more information on conduct disorder as well as treatment information.

If you are a parent with a child suffering from conduct disorder you may want to check out www.conductdisorders.com, which is an online support group and discussion area for parents dealing with the same issues as you.