Treatment of human aggression with major tranquilizers, antidepressants, and newer psychotropic drugs

J Nerv Ment Dis. 1975 Feb;160(2-1):83-99. doi: 10.1097/00005053-197502000-00003.

Abstract

Most of the drugs used in the treatment of aggressive syndromes have originally been developed for other clinical applications. Despite significant differences in the pathogenesis of various aggressive disorders, the frequently used "antiaggression" drugs are the major tranquilizers (neuroleptics). If the aggresstion is associated with psychosis, chlorpromazine or haloperidol are the drugs of choice. Aggressive disorders within the acute and chronic brain syndromes are best treated with pericyazine, thioridazine, and thiothixene. In aggressive symptoms of mentally retarded patients, particularly with epileptic syndromes, a new benzazepine (SCH12,679)was found to be very effective. Aggression associated with alcoholism or narcotic addiction showed best response to chlorpormazine and haloperidol. As a general rule, in aggressive patients with clinically known epilepsy, or with abnormal electroencephalographic findings, the major tranquilizers with potent sedative properties should be given with great caution.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Affective Symptoms / complications
  • Aggression / drug effects*
  • Alcoholism / complications
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzazepines / therapeutic use
  • Butyrophenones / therapeutic use
  • Child Behavior Disorders / drug therapy
  • Chronic Disease
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / complications
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Molindone / therapeutic use
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / complications
  • Personality Disorders / complications
  • Personality Disorders / drug therapy
  • Phenothiazines
  • Psychoses, Substance-Induced / drug therapy
  • Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use*
  • Reserpine / therapeutic use
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications
  • Thioxanthenes / therapeutic use
  • Tranquilizing Agents / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • Benzazepines
  • Butyrophenones
  • Phenothiazines
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Thioxanthenes
  • Tranquilizing Agents
  • Reserpine
  • Molindone