NCJ Number
202378
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 5 Dated: October 2003 Pages: 556-567
Editor(s)
George B. Palermo M.D.
Date Published
October 2003
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the treatment of antisocial personality disorder (APD) patients using Quetiapine through the reporting of the results of treatment with Quetiapine in four case studies.
Abstract
There are few effective treatments for antisocial personality disorder (APD) which is characterized by impulsivity, irritability, and aggression. This paper describes four case reports of patients referred to a maximum-security inpatient forensic psychiatric facility for pretrial evaluation and treated with the atypical antipsychotic agent Quetiapine. All four patients met the criteria for APD and were severely psychopathic. The case reports consisted of a 39-year old man convicted of murders as a teenager, a 35-year old man with a history of aggressive behavior, a 19-year old man with severe aggressive behavior, and a 23-year old man who was convicted of murder in middle adolescence. Quetiapine is used in this facility based on its favorable safety and tolerability profile in psychotic patients. Patients showed a decrease in symptoms with a typical daily dosage of 600 to 800 milligrams. Treatment in the four patients produced substantial improvements in important behavioral aspects of psychopathy. References