EFFECT OF LITHIUM ON IMPULSIVE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN MAN

• NCJ Number: 38428
• Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry Volume: 133 Issue: 12 Dated: (DECEMBER 1976) Pages: 1409-1413
• Author(s): M H SHEARD; J L MARINI; C I BRIDGES; E WAGNER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychiatric Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DESCRIPTION OF A THREE-YEAR DOUBLE-BLIND EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF LITHIUM ON THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF INCARCERATED DELINQUENT MALES WITH HISTORIES OF CHRONIC IMPULSIVE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

THE 66 SUBJECTS, WHO WERE PRISONERS IN A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION, RANGED IN AGE FROM 16 TO 24 YEARS, WERE PHYSICALLY HEALTHY AND NONPSYCHOTIC, AND HAD HISTORIES OF CHRONIC IMPULSIVE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. THE 5-MONTH EXPERIMENTAL PERIOD FOR EACH SUBJECT BEGAN WITH ONE MEDICATION-FREE MONTH THAT SERVED AS A CONTROL PERIOD. DURING THE NEXT THREE-MONTH PERIOD, SUBJECTS WERE GIVEN EITHER ONCE-DAILY DOSES OF LITHIUM CARBONATE OR AN IDENTICAL-APPEARING PLACEBO. THE FIFTH MONTH WAS AGAIN DRUG FREE. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE LITHIUM GROUP AS MEASURED BY A DECREASE IN INFRACTIONS INVOLVING VIOLENCE. THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT LITHIUM CAN HAVE A CLINICALLY USEFUL EFFECT UPON IMPULSIVE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR WHEN THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH PSYCHOSIS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)