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Among many questions surrounding the potential for violence in patients with schizophrenia, the role of comorbid substance use is a prominent concern. In this Australian case-linkage study, investigators compared 4168 patients (age range, 17–65) with schizophrenia listed in a mental health registry with 4641 randomly selected community controls (50% men) on aspects of criminal history including charges, convictions, perpetration of family violence, and subjection to a restraining order. Of the schizophrenia patients, 21.9% had a comorbid substance use disorder.
Overall, 10.0% of patients and 2.4% of the community sample had been found guilty of a violent offense, and 12.1% and 3.7%, respectively, had records for perpetrating family violence.…