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Impulsive aggressive behavior: open-label treatment with citalopram.
Christopher Reist1, Katsura Nakamura, Elahe Sagart
1Mental Health Care Group, VA Long Beach Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, USA. creist@uci.edu
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|February 20, 2003
Summary
Citalopram effectively reduces impulsive aggressive behavior in individuals with cluster B personality disorders or intermittent explosive disorder. This selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment demonstrated significant improvements in aggression and irritability scores.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) show promise in reducing impulsive aggression.
- Previous studies indicate SSRIs may decrease aggressive behaviors.
- Impulsive aggression is a significant clinical concern in various psychiatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the anti-aggressive effects of citalopram in subjects with impulsive aggression.
- To assess citalopram's efficacy in patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for cluster B personality disorders or intermittent explosive disorder.
Main Methods:
- An 8-week open-label study involving 25 subjects.
- Citalopram dosage ranged from 20 mg/day to 60 mg/day.
- Primary outcome measured by the Overt Aggression Scale-Modified (OAS-M); secondary measures included impulsiveness and hostility scales.
Main Results:
- Twenty subjects completed the trial with a mean daily dose of 45.5 mg.
- Citalopram was well-tolerated by the participants.
- Significant reductions were observed in OAS-M aggression, subjective irritability, and overt irritability scores (p < .001).
Conclusions:
- Citalopram demonstrates efficacy in reducing impulsive aggressive behavior.
- The findings support citalopram as a potential treatment for impulsive aggression in specific patient populations.
- Further research may explore long-term effects and comparative efficacy.