The goals of this study were to examine the relationship between
community violence and inpatient assaults and to identify neurological and
neuropsychological deficits underlying violent behavior. Thirty- three
inpatients with a history of community violence were compared with 69
patients who did not have such a history. Inpatient assaults were recorded
for 4 weeks; a neurological/neuropsychological battery was then
administered. Patients without community violence were more likely to show
transient or no violence while in the hospital. Patients with community
violence performed more poorly on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and on
psychomotor tasks, impairments that are consistent with frontal lobe
dysfunction. Inpatient assaults were not associated with these
neuropsychological impairments. They were related, however, to impairment
on frontal motor programming tasks and a history of community violence.Abstract Teaser