[Risperidone as a tool to control hard aggression].
BACKGROUND
It is a challenge to give adequate help to patients who have problems controlling their aggression. Stimulation of 5-HT1A receptors and blockage of 5-HT2A receptors is known to have antiaggressive effects. Risperidone is an antipsychotic drug with a combined effect as a dopamine antagonist and a 5-HT2A receptor antagonist.


METHODS
Risperidone in dosages from 0.25 to 1 mg daily was administered to 11 patients with restlessness, concentration problems, tics and aggression that was hard to control. The patients were 11 to 47 years of age, most of them were also taking other medications, and all received other kinds of treatment, e.g. psychotherapy. There was no control group.


RESULTS
More than half of the patients gained far better control of their temper. Two of the patients were taken off risperidone treatment after a short period of time because of side effects and no effect on temper.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed effect of risperidone on aggression is in concordance with other reports, but in lower dosages than reported elsewhere. Risperidone therefore seems promising as an adjuvant in treating patients with hard controllable aggression, even in very low dosages, though their is a need for systematic studies to assess the effect.
Heitun
O G
OG
oheitun@online.no
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors