Propranolol treatment of chronically hospitalized aggressive patients.
Violent behavior in psychiatric patients may result in long-term hospitalization. There is no FDA-approved psychopharmacologic treatment for aggression. In this study, 20 chronically aggressive hospitalized patients were administered 1 week of placebo followed by an open trial of increasing doses of propranolol. Patients who had an equivocal or definite clinical response were entered into an open add-on double-blind discontinuation study phase. Aggressive behavior was objectively documented throughout the study. After the open phase of the study, 7 patients had a greater than 50% decrease in aggressive behavior. Four patients entered the double-blind discontinuation phase. The clinical course of 3 of those patients was consistent with the positive response to propranolol. The results of this study are consistent with a therapeutic effect of propranolol in some patients with aggressive behavior. Further studies are indicated.
Silver
J M
JM
Department of Psychiatry, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY 10021-1883, USA.
Yudofsky
S C
SC
Slater
J A
JA
Gold
R K
RK
Stryer
B L
BL
Williams
D T
DT
Wolland
H
H
Endicott
J
J
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol