Schizophrenia is related with high risk of aggressive behavior and poor cognitive performance.

To study the relationship between cognitive performance, clinical characteristics and history of aggressive behavior in inpatients with schizophrenia.

In this two year follow-up study 65 inpatients with schizophrenia diagnosis according to ICD-10 criteria were evaluated using neuro-cognitive test WAIS and MMSE, clinical characteristics were based on PANSS and PCL tools and aggressive behavior was assessed based on HCR-20 and medical records. Inpatients were divided in two groups: nonrecidivism group (N-28) and recidivism group with aggressive behavior (N-37). Both groups were compared in terms of difference of means and correlation between socio demographic data, clinical symptoms and cognitive performance.

37 in patients with schizophrenia or 56,9% were recidivist with aggressive behavior (≥1 incident) while 28 of them or 43,1% weren’t recidivist. We find significant difference between groups in age at first violence p < 0,023, past history of treatment p < 0,05 and social status with p < 0,018 level of significance. ANOVA test showed group difference in PANSS test (p < 0,001). Recidivism group of inpatients shows significantly poor cognitive performance in WAIS (p < 0,029) and MMSE (p < 0,025) test. Based on Pearson correlation matrix cognitive variable were significantly correlated with positive and negative clinical symptoms of schizophrenia features.

Poor cognitive performance was related with aggressive behavior recidivism and using the methods of behavioral-cognitive programs of rehabilitation is priority for the treatment of inpatients with schizophrenia under measure of psychiatric mandatory treatment.