| The current study investigated the factors that are associated with aggressive behavior in forensic and non-forensic psychiatric inpatients using Nussbaum's (1997) psychobiological model of aggression, which classifies behavior in three subtypes: predatory, defensive, and irritable. A total of 80 clinical records of the most recent admissions to the adult inpatient units at the Whitby Mental Health Centre (WMHC) were reviewed for number of violent incidents that resulted in seclusion placement. To test predicted theoretical associates of the model, a number of clinically utilized psychometric instruments were examined in relationship to the types of seclusion placements including the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA), Iowa Gambling Task, Temperament and Character Inventory, Personality Assessment Inventory, and State Trait Anger Expression Inventory---2nd Edition. Approximately 87% of seclusions were classified as irritable in nature and significantly correlated with IVA Full-Scale Attention, IVA Full-Scale Response Control, AGG, ANT, Trait Anger, Anger Control-In, and Anger Control-Out. The step-wise regression analysis indicated that IVA-Full Scale Attention and AGG-P accounted for 69.2% of the variance. There was no significant difference between the two subject groups with regards to the frequency and the type of violent incidents. In conclusion, the results of the current study indicated that Nussbaum's aggression classification model is effective in describing the nature of the incidents and identifying risk factors of inpatient violence in both forensic and non-forensic populations. Findings have clinical implications for inpatient violence risk management. |
