Aim: Violence risk is an important part of a comprehensive clinical assessment in first-episode psychosis. This study addresses limitations of previous violent outcome research in first-episode psychosis, which has typically investigated selected cohorts or been restricted to violence occurring prior to service contact, with limited use of police data.
Methods: For individuals consecutively assessed by Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services in two UK regions (n = 177), violent outcomes in the subsequent 12-months were collected using electronic patient records, supplemented by police data.
Results: Of individuals accepted by EIP services (n = 109), electronic medical records indicated around 1 in 4 (n = 28, 25.7%) perpetrated any physical violence, and 1 in 10 (n = 10, 9.2%) were arrested or charged for violent offences in the 12-months after first contact. Police data on all individuals assessed (n = 177) reported 1 in 7 (n = 26, 14.7%) were arrested or charged for violent offences in the 12-months after first contact.
Conclusions: EIP services should consider integrating multi-agency sources of data to evaluate violent outcomes. The potential role of violence risk management should be further examined.
Keywords: aggression; crime; psychosis; schizophrenia; violence.
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.