Low oxytocin levels in schizophrenia patients involved in crime and the relationship of these levels to aggression, empathy and forgiveness

In this study, we aimed to measure the oxytocin levels of patients with schizophrenia who were involved in crime. A total of 130 people (50 patients with schizophrenia who had been involved in crime, 40 patients with schizophrenia who had not been involved in crime and 40 healthy controls) were incl...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Yilmaz, Seda (Author) ; Öner, Pınar (Author) ; Taşcı, Gülay (Author) ; Kaya, Şüheda (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2023
In: The journal of forensic psychiatry & psychology
Year: 2023, Volume: 34, Issue: 1, Pages: 1-19
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Forgiveness
Empathy
Aggression
Schizophrenia
Crime
Oxytocin
Description
Summary:In this study, we aimed to measure the oxytocin levels of patients with schizophrenia who were involved in crime. A total of 130 people (50 patients with schizophrenia who had been involved in crime, 40 patients with schizophrenia who had not been involved in crime and 40 healthy controls) were included in the study. Serum oxytocin levels of all participants were measured. The oxytocin levels of the schizophrenia group involved in crime were lower than those of the other groups (p < 0.001). In patients with schizophrenia, the oxytocin levels of patients negatively correlated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score (r = −0.339, p = 0.016 < 0.05) and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) total score (r = −0.551, p < 0.001) and positively correlated with the Affective and Cognitive Measure of Empathy (ACME) total score (r = 0.699, p < 0.001) and Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS) total score (r = 0.682, p < 0.001). Those who committed murder had lower oxytocin levels than those who committed other crimes (p < 0.05). In patients with schizophrenia, early measurement of oxytocin levels and the addition of oxytocin to the treatment may be beneficial.
ISSN:1478-9957
DOI:10.1080/14789949.2022.2156378