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Children and adolescents in high-risk environments more likely to become violent adults

5 years ago
Anonymous $CLwNLde341

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180524112317.htm

In a previous study, the researchers reported that schizophrenia could develop about ten years earlier in genetically predisposed people who grow up in high-risk conditions, such as suffering childhood maltreatment, sexual abuse or head trauma. As demonstrated in the present study, the same high-risk conditions led to a five times' greater likelihood of a person being hospitalized in forensic units because of violent behaviour.

For this work, the researchers analyzed data from six different study populations. Overall, the data stemmed from more than 1500 people living with schizophrenia (accessed through the Göttingen Research Association for Schizophrenia, GRAS), as well as more than 550 members of Spain's general population. The researchers factored in aspects such as whether the person grew up in an at-risk area, namely if he or she was living in a big city or had migrated, experienced forms of physical or sexual abuse or used cannabis or engaged in problematic alcohol consumption before the age of 18 years. As outcome measure, the researchers evaluated whether study participants had been convicted of violent crimes such as sexual assault, manslaughter, battery or murder.