Risk of violence in severely mentally ill and the psychiatric morbidity among their caregivers

Aysha Zabin  Madathil; Anithakumari Ayirolimeethal; Biju George

doi:10.30834/KJP.36.2.2023.374

Authors

Aysha Zabin Madathil Department of Psychiatry, M E S Medical College, Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Kerala, India
Anithakumari Ayirolimeethal Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala, India
Biju George Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30834/KJP.36.2.2023.374

Keywords:

Aggression, violence, caregivers, psychiatric morbidity, HCR-20-V3

Abstract

Background: Violence in psychiatric patients is a major concern to both public and mental health professionals. Risk of violence (ROV) in patients can cause a high degree of psychological stress on caregivers that may predispose them to various psychological problems. Aim: To estimate the ROV in patients with severe mental illness and to estimate the relationship between the ROV among severely mentally ill and the psychiatric morbidity in their primary caregivers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center involving 308 patient subjects and their caregivers. Socio-demographic data were collected using a proforma, and caregivers were diagnosed based on the International Classification of Diseases-10 using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)-Plus. ROV was assessed using Historical Clinical Risk Management (HCR)-20, Version 3. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test for association and odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval for the strength of association. Results: High ROV was found in 32.5% of the severely mentally ill. Caregivers reported a high rate of psychiatric disorders (44.8%), of which 71.7% were mood disorders. A significant association was found between ROV in patients and psychiatric morbidity in their caregivers (p = 0.001). Conclusion: ROV is high among the severely mentally ill. There is a high rate of psychiatric morbidity among caregivers of patients with a high ROV. There is a significant association between psychiatric morbidity in caregivers and ROV in patients.

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