Medication-induced aggression

Antisocial Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder Conduct Disorder Delirium Dementias Depression Explosive Disorder Medication-induced aggression Mania... 

Malick, J.B. The pharmacology of isolation-induced aggressive behavior in mice. In Essman, W.B., and Valzelli, L., eds. Current Developments in Psychopharmacology. 5. New York SP Medical and Scientific Books, 1979. pp. 1-27. 

Eichelman B. and BarchaS J. (1975) Facilitated shock-induced aggression following antidepressive medication in the rat Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 3, 601-606. 

Given that VTE can be debilitating or fatal, it is important to treat it quickly and aggressively.8 On the other hand, because major bleeding induced by antithrombotic drugs can be equally harmful, it is important to avoid treatment when the diagnosis is not reasonably certain. Assessment of the patient s status should focus on the search for risk factors in the patient s medical history... 

Akathisia can literally drive a person crazy. Barnes (1992) pointed to studies indicating that akathisia can induce psychosis. He cited literature confirming that it can cause aggression and violence or suicide (see also Breggin et al., 1994a, for discussion of akathisia and suicide). Van Putten and Marder (1987) reviewed the literature and concluded that akathisia in the extreme case, can drive people to suicide or to homicide. Too often, doctors are likely to mistake the akathisia for the patient s mental disorder and increase the medication, creating a vicious cycle. 

This is consistent with my testimony and publications, beginning with Toxic Psychiatry in 1991, in which I warned about both suicide and violence caused by SSRIs and with my book Medication Madness (in press), which will present dozens of case histories illustrating harm to self and to others induced by the SSRIs. The FDA continues to lag behind, however, mentioning hostility and aggression in the new labels as problems associated with SSRIs but without giving these dire outcomes sufficient emphasis. 

The capacity for SSRIs to induce akathisia—and for akathisia to cause suicidality, aggression, and a worsening mental condition—is also recognized in the DSM-IV and the DSM-IV-TR in the section dealing with neuroleptic-induced akathisia. The DSM-IV-TR observes, Akathisia may be associated with dysphoria, irritability, aggression, or suicide attempts. It also mentions worsening of psychotic symptoms or behavioral dyscontrol. It then states, Serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor antidepressant medications may produce akathisia that appears identical in phenomenology and treatment response to Neuroleptic-Induced Acute Akathisia (p. 801). 

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