Related Experiment Videos
Aggressive dyscontrol in patients treated with benzodiazepines
1Department of Psychiatry, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange 92668.
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Benzodiazepines may rarely cause aggression, affecting less than 1% of patients. Researchers found no consistent indicators to predict this adverse effect, despite reviewing various case and experimental data.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Clinical Psychiatry
Background:
- Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia.
- Periodic reports suggest a potential link between benzodiazepine use and increased aggression.
- The manifestations of this aggression can range from mild irritability to severe assault.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the phenomenon of benzodiazepine-induced aggression.
- To estimate the incidence of clinically adverse sequelae.
- To identify any consistent predictive indicators for this adverse effect.
Main Methods:
- Review of case reports.
- Analysis of experimental studies.
- Examination of incidence reports.
Main Results:
- The incidence of clinically adverse sequelae related to aggression was estimated to be less than 1%.
- Consistent predictive indicators for this phenomenon were found to be lacking.
- The study characterized the range of aggressive manifestations.
Conclusions:
- Benzodiazepine-induced aggression is a rare adverse effect.
- Current data do not allow for reliable prediction of which patients may experience this side effect.
- Further research may be needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and identify potential risk factors.