Forgiveness Therapy to Reduce Violent Behavior in Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Case Study

This study aims to describe the application of forgiveness therapy as a psychosocial intervention for a schizophrenia patient with violent behavior. Mr. M, a 19-year-old male diagnosed with schizophrenia, exhibited psychotic symptoms, including auditory hallucinations, persecutory delusions, agitation, and aggression. He had a history of trauma due to physical violence from his brother. The patient was diagnosed with a risk for violence toward others. Forgiveness therapy was implemented over six sessions, each lasting 45–60 minutes, using a structured approach that included guided emotional processing, cognitive reframing, relaxation techniques, and perspective-taking exercises. The intervention aimed to help the patient process past trauma, regulate emotions, and improve interpersonal relationships. Changes in behavior and emotional regulation were assessed through direct observation, self-reports, and interviews with family members and healthcare providers. Following the intervention, the patient exhibited reduced aggressive behavior, including breaking objects and making verbal threats, and improved emotional regulation, conflict resolution skills, and family interactions. While this case study suggests that forgiveness therapy may contribute to managing violent tendencies in individuals with schizophrenia, its findings are limited by the single-case design and the absence of standardized outcome measures. Further research with larger sample sizes, control groups, and comparative analyses with other psychosocial interventions is necessary to establish its efficacy and broader applicability.