Drug-induced disinhibition in psychiatrically hospitalized children

To examine rates and predictors of drug-induced behavioral disinhibition (DIBD) in psychiatrically hospitalized children.

DIBD was examined in 267 children psychiatrically hospitalized for at least 4 weeks. Age, gender, diagnosis, and medication were covariates. DIBD was defined as dramatic increase in aggression identified by increased time-outs while on medicaton.

Twenty (7.5%) children met our criteria. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use appeared to increase the risk, and older age and stimulant use decreased the risk of DIBD. However, it was often difficult to distinguish true DIBD from the behavioral fluctuations of these disturbed children. Fifteen percent of children subsequently improved on the same regimen, 40% improved when the offending drug was stopped and another treatment was started, and the remainder had adverse response to many medications.

DIBD is a complex phenomenon that does not lend itself to simple conclusions and requires further study.