Hasan Kalyoncu University

Aggression is a serious problem that appears to be common in forensic psychiatric patients. Determining factors related to aggression is important for psychiatric nurses during the treatment, care and rehabilitation of patients. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between childhood traumas, cognitive distortions and aggression in forensic psychiatry patients. This descriptive study was conducted with 103 male forensic psychiatry patients treated in a high security forensic psychiatry hospital. The data of study were collected Introductory Information Form, Childhood Psychological Traumas Scale (CTQ), Cognitive Distortions Scale (CDS) and Buss-Perry Aggression Scale (BAQ). In this study, 82.5% of forensic psychiatry patients were male, 50.5% were married, 49.5% had secondary education, 53.4% were not working. It was found that patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disordersa and Bipolar Affective Disorders, who were hospitalised more than 5 times, who used alcohol/substances and who had previous experience of forensic events had higher levels of aggression. There was a significant positive correlation between the childhood traumas, cognitive distortions and aggression. The results of this study reveal important results that will contribute to psychiatric nurses caring for forensic psychiatric patients in determining the patients' aggression and affecting factors during the treatment and care process.