No abstract

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that ultimately leads to a decline in cognitive, social and emotional functioning. Although the aetiology of the disorder is still unknown, it is most likely multifactorial, with equal importance of environmental and genetic factors. It has been hypothesized that those same factors influence aggressive symptomatology and possibly even violence in schizophrenia. The association between schizophrenia and aggressive behaviour is well documented; however, the impact of genetic alterations and gene polymorphisms on the incidence and type of violence in this group of patients has rarely been the focus of scientific research. Both violence and aggression are complex behavioural patterns that lead to difficulties in the comparability of genetic studies and limits their clinical applicability. In this review paper we systematically presented findings from studies examining the association between gene polymorphisms of the dopamine and serotonin systems and aggressive symptoms and violent behaviour in schizophrenia.