title: Treatment of aggression and irritability after head injury.
abstract: Thirteen patients who experienced problems with irritability and aggression following closed head injury (CHI) participated in a non-blind, 8 week open trial and sertraline HCl. Significant reduction in irritability and aggressive outbursts was observed. No significant changes were observed in depressive symptomatology. Results suggest that serotonergic agents may be useful in treating aggression and irritability after head injury. Further placebo-controlled studies using serotonergic agents are indicated.
authors.affiliation: Head Injury Clinic, St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15524, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kant
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith-Seemiller
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeiler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline