Prediction of physical violence in schizophrenia with machine learning algorithms. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Kevin Z.; Bani-Fatemi, Ali; Adanty, Christopher; Harripaul, Ricardo; Griffiths, John; Kolla, Nathan; Gerretsen, Philip; Graff, Ariel; De Luca, Vincenzo
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 289(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Violence -- Schizophrenia -- Childhood trauma -- Personality -- Machine learning; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112960
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: 275 schizophrenia patients were assessed to identify demographic, clinical, and sociocultural variables as predictors. Seven machine learning classification algorithms were utilized to predict for past instances of physical violence. This study determined that the random forest model performed marginally better than other algorithms. Abstract: Patients with schizophrenia have been shown to have an increased risk for physical violence. While certain features have been identified as risk factors, it has been difficult to integrate these variables to identify violent patients. The present study thus attempts to develop a clinically-relevant predictive tool. In a population of 275 schizophrenia patients, we identified 103 participants as violent and 172 as non-violent through electronic medical documentation, and conducted cross-sectional assessments to identify demographic, clinical, and sociocultural variables. Using these predictors, we utilized seven machine learning classification algorithms to predict for past instances of physical violence. Our classification algorithms predicted with significant accuracy compared to random discrimination alone, and had varying degrees of predictive power, as described by various performance measures. We determined that the random forest model performed marginally better than other algorithms, with an accuracy of 62% and an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.63. To summarize, machine learning classification algorithms are becoming increasingly valuable, though, optimization of these models is needed to better complement diagnostic decisions regarding early interventional measures to predict instances of physical violence.