While most individuals with a psychotic disorder will never engage in aggressive or violent behavior, it is sometimes assumed individuals with a severe mental illness are likely to commit an aggressive or violent act. Aggressive behavior, defined as disruptive behavior that harms people physically and psychologically, can be manifested in multiple forms including physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility.
Although, violence risk is elevated in individuals experiencing first episode psychosis (FEP) compared to individuals in the later stages of psychotic illness and the general population, most individuals with psychotic disorder will not engage in aggressive or violent behavior. Myriad factors are implicated in the emergence of aggressive behavior in individuals experiencing psychosis such as personality traits, neurobiology, and the complex relationship with the surrounding environment (e.g., family, friends, socioeconomic status, parent’s economic and educational standing). Literature has shown that an interaction between temperament / personality traits (stable across time), increased family conflict, poor communication, low parental support, and early traumatic events negatively impacts overall development and leads to unfavorable outcomes such as externalizing behavior, delinquency/incarceration, depression, social anxiety, academic failure, and low quality of life.  Therefore, it is essential to understand the trajectories of behavior prior to, and following, the onset of FEP.  This understanding can help identify at-risk groups, inform treatment approaches, and reduce aggressive and violent behavior in individuals experiencing FEP.