Violence against Caregivers by Relatives with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Sixty-one caregivers (37 women and 24 men) in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada, who lived with and provided care to 51 relatives with schizophrenia, participated in a survey to identify dynamic risks factors that may have precipitated violence in these families. Twenty-six percent and 31% of caregivers experienced at least one incident of severe and one incident of minor physical assault respectively, in the past 12 months. Forty-four percent and 64% of caregivers experienced at least one incident of severe and one incident of minor psychological aggression respectively during the same period. Stepwise multiple regression analyses evidenced the intensity of Threat/Control-Override (TCO) symptoms in relatives with schizophrenia as the only significant predictor of physical assault against caregivers. Caregivers’ Critical Comments against relatives with schizophrenia and the intensity of TCO symptoms in ill relatives were significant predictors of psychological aggression against caregivers.