Treatment of aggressive children with clonidine: results of an open pilot study.
Seventeen aggressive children (14 boys and 3 girls) aged 5 to 15 years, who were characterized by cruel behavior to others and destruction of property, entered an open pilot study using clonidine to evaluate its efficacy and safety and drug-induced changes in plasma gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). Aggression decreased in 15 children with minimal side effects. In five cases, GABA increased from 105.4 +/- 15.2 ng/mL at baseline to 125.2 +/- 10.8 ng/mL at follow-up (p < 0.01). A sixth patient was noncompliant. These findings suggest that GABA may be correlated with childhood aggressiveness and may be a useful marker of drug compliance. Pharmacotherapy with clonidine should be further assessed for the control of aggression.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0486.
J P
JP
Kemph
C L
CL
DeVane
G M
GM
Levin
R
R
Jarecke
R L
RL
Miller
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D003000:Clonidine