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Paramenstrual aggression in mentally retarded adult ameliorated by buspirone
R F Colella1, J J Ratey, A I Glaser
1Medfield State Hospital, Massachusetts.
Objective:
This case examined the efficacy of buspirone therapy as a reductive technique for severe treatment resistant paramenstrual aggression.
Method:
Aggressive outbursts of an institutionalized mentally retarded adult were analyzed and correlated with menstrual cycling. Behavior was closely monitored, and after ineffective trials of antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and beta blockers, a trial of buspirone was initiated.
Results:
Buspirone therapy resulted in a marked decrease in aggressive incidences, and substantial increases in desirable behaviors. As a result of the subjects improvement, doses of concurrent psychotropic medications were reduced or discontinued altogether.
Conclusions:
The authors conclude that buspirone is an effective pharmacotherapy for paramenstrual aggression in the developmentally disabled, and encourage similar experimentation when behavior seems to be otherwise untreatable.