Oliver Gil1, Amal Abdel-Baki1,2, Alexandre Dumais1,3; 1Université de Montréal, 2Clinique des Jeunes Adultes Psychotiques, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, 3Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal
Introduction: Very few studies have been conducted to investigate the prevalence of of violent behaviour (VB) and factors associated with it, in FEP patients before and after treatment initiation. Objective: To describe the prevalence before and after treatment initiation, factors associated to VB, and the evolution of violence in first-episode psychosis (FEP) Methods: Systematic literature review performed using Pubmed with the following key words: [first episode psychosis OR first episode schizophrenia OR early psychosis OR early schizophrenia] AND [violence OR aggression OR assault OR battery OR homicide OR criminality]. Some additional studies were located by hand searching the reference lists of included studies. Inclusion criteria: FEP population or results presented for the sub-group of FEP, VB prevalence, VB evolution, VB measures, factors associated with VB, Results: Of the 707 articles responding to search criteria, 22 articles were retained. The prevalence of VB before and at admission /after treatment initiation varies between 6.7 - 67.5% / 9.4 - 31.0%. Variable methodologies (eg. various definitions of VB, different measures,, populations, etc) could explain these discrepancies. Some factors were repeatedly associated with VB such as male gender, young age, unemployment, drug use, past violence, manic symptoms. Most studies have a follow-up duration of less than 3 years. Conclusion: Though the association between untreated first-episode psychosis and violence is well established, more longitudinal data pertaining to the long term evolution and factors associated with VB, following the initiation of treatment, is needed.
