Impulsive behavior and its correlates among patients with schizophrenia in a tertiary care psychiatry setting in Mansoura

• Motor impulsive behavior was more in schizophrenia than in control.
• Sex is a significant predictor for impulsive behavior in schizophrenic patients (males are more impulsive).
• History of sexual or physical abuse and high scores on the positive symptom subscale in PANSS are also significant predictors for impulsive behavior in patients with schizophrenia.

Background and objectivesImpulsive behavior has been repeatedly identified as a major problem in schizophrenia. Our objective was to examine the possible demographical and clinical correlates for impulsive behavior in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsFifty-eight patients with schizophrenia and Seventy-seven healthy controls were recruited. Sociodemographic data were collected and they were subjected to the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), Positive and Negative Syndrome scale (PANSS), and Trauma Assessment for Adults—Brief Revised Version (TAA).ResultsCorrelations between impulsive behavior and psychosocial variables were examined. A significant association between level of impulsive behavior and severity of psychopathological symptoms was observed (P = 0.0001). Young age (P = 0.001), male patients (P = 0.0001) and those with history of childhood sexual or physical abuse (P = 0.0001), were more impulsive. Linear regression (step wise) analysis model showed that male sex (P = 0.001), positive symptoms (P = 0.006), and childhood physical abuse (P = 0.001) were significant associations.ConclusionMale gender, positive symptoms as well as history of physical and sexual abuse before 18 years of age are important predictors for high levels of impulsive behavior in schizophrenia patients.