Relationships between Measures of Direct and Indirect Hostility and Self-Destructive Behaviour by Hospitalized Schizophrenics

To test the hypothesis that suicidal and self-destructive behaviour correlate with subjective and objective measures of hostility and violence, these behaviours in hospitalized schizophrenics were correlated to self-report (Buss-Durkee) and observer-rated (Lion Scale) measures. Self-destructive acts were significantly correlated with six of the seven of the Buss-Durkee self-report hostility subscales. The observed measures of hostility and violence correlated with seclusion and with restraint as a self-protective measure. Neither the Lion nor the Buss-Durkee measures correlated with depression measures. Thus, our data indicate that self-destructive acts in hospitalized schizophrenics may be better predicted by feelings of anger and hostility than by depression, a finding with relevance for clinicians who treat schizophrenic patients.