Non-pharmacological treatment
Aggressive behavior in many schizophrenia patients
fails to respond adequately to pharmacological treatments. This is due, in part, to an etiological
heterogeneity of this behavior. As discussed above,
history of conduct disorder, as well as comorbid
antisocial personality disorder, constitute alternative
pathways to violence in schizophrenia. Aggressive
behavior in schizophrenia patients with these problems
is not directly caused by psychosis, and therefore it is
less likely to respond to antipsychotics.
Furthermore, there are patients whose violent
behavior does respond to antipsychotics, but who
become non-adherent to treatment and start abusing
drugs or alcohol after they are discharged from the
hospital. Non-adherence to pharmacological treatment
and substance abuse elevate the risk of violence in
schizophrenia (Alia-Klein et al. 2007, Swartz et al.
1998b, Volavka & Citrome 2011).
Standard psychiatric treatment programs have
limited success in reducing recidivistic violent and
criminal behavior in such patients. Some studies show
that outpatient civil commitment may reduce violence in
such cases (Swanson et al. 2000).
A specialized, cognitive behavioral treatment program
was developed for such population. The program,
called STAIR (Service for Treatment and Abatement of
Interpersonal Risk), has been operating since 1997 at a
state hospital providing treatment to the severely
mentally ill in the New York City region. This inpatient
treatment program specifically targets the factors associated
with violent and criminal behavior. Substance
abuse programs complete the curriculum. The Cognitive
Skills Training course is the core of the program. The
program has reduced rates of arrest and hospitalization
and improved adherence to treatment (Yates et al.
2010). Similar programs have been developed elsewhere
(Haddock et al. 2009, Cullen et al. 2012).