Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of victimized versus non victimized patients with schizophrenia: An Egyptian study

Abstract

Persons with mental disorders living in the community are liable for victimization and are considered as a high-risk group. Objective of this study was to explore the sociodemographic variables and clinical characteristics related to victimization of patients with schizophrenia in comparison to their non victimized counterparts. One hundred patients were recruited from the inpatient wards and outpatient clinics of the Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University. They were subjected to Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I diagnosis (Clinical Version); Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS); Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF); Clinical Global Impression (CGI); designed extensive questionnaire to elicit demographic data; inquiry about drug compliance and Victimization Questionnaire. Results show that 70 patients of the studied sample were non victimized and 30 patients were victimized. Victimized patients were significantly younger, living mainly in urban areas, had less frequent history of bullying at school. There were exposed significantly to higher frequency of family domestic violence and childhood abuse. They scored higher for all subscales and in total PANSS scores and they were less compliant on medication than did their non victimized counterparts. Until now studies of victimization of mentally ill did not draw the attention of researchers and clinicians in Arab world. This study proves that victimization is not uncommon among patients with schizophrenia; Clinicians should include assessment for victimization of their patients as a routine work. The current study provides preliminary data for clinicians and policy makers to consider strategies to protect patients with various mental illnesses from being victimized.