Domestically and Generally Violent Forensic Psychiatric Outpatients: Personality Traits and Behavior

• NCJ Number: 237133
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 1380-1393
• Author(s): Ruud H.J. Hornsveld; Siemon Bezuijen; Ellie E.M. Leenaars; Floris W. Kraaimaat
• Date Published: October 2008
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored personality traits and problem behaviors of a group of domestically violent patients at a Dutch forensic psychiatric outpatient clinic.

Abstract

A group of 63 domestically violent patients and a group of 103 generally violent patients at a Dutch forensic psychiatric outpatient clinic are examined with regard to personality traits and problem behaviors to develop treatment programs for domestically violent patients. The domestically violent patients are more unstable from a psychological viewpoint but not more inclined to anger than the average Dutch male. They report less anxiety in situations in which criticism can be given but more anxiety in situations in which someone can be given a compliment. When comparing domestically violent patients with generally violent patients, domestically violent patients score lower on anger as disposition and on aggressive behavior than the generally violent patients do. However, both groups do not differ from each other in their score on the dimension of psychopathy. (Published Abstract)