ABSTRACT
Epidemiological studies suggest a positive but controversial correlation between the major mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia and delinquent or criminal acting out. To study the occurrence of violence in patients with schizophrenia according to demographic, clinical and disease progression features. This retrospective study included all out-patients, consulting during a period of one month, suffering from schizophrenia for at least five years. The clinical and forensic history was obtained owing to a semi-structured interview with patients and their families, medical records and the passing of different scales. Sixty patients were included. 46.7% [n=28] of patients had a violent behavior in the pre morbid period. Aggressiveness was noted as the first prodrome in 13.3% [n=8] of cases. 28 major acts of violence were committed by 30% [n=18] of patients regardless of the active period of disease. In 13.3% [n=8] of cases, these acts announced the disease. The majority of acts have been committed against a non-foreign person. Recurrence was noted in 44.4% [n=8] of patients. Several risk factors of violent behavior were found. Only prodromal aggression was associated with a poor prognosis. Violences committed by patients with schizophrenia are attributed to a particular group of patients and do not have necessarily a pejorative prognostic value