Drug-induced disinhibition in psychiatrically hospitalized children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine rates and predictors of drug-induced behavioral disinhibition (DIBD) in psychiatrically hospitalized children.


METHODS
DIBD was examined in 267 children psychiatrically hospitalized for at least 4 weeks. Age, gender, diagnosis, and medication were covariates. DIBD was defined as dramatic increase in aggression identified by increased time-outs while on medicaton.


RESULTS
Twenty (7.5%) children met our criteria. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use appeared to increase the risk, and older age and stimulant use decreased the risk of DIBD. However, it was often difficult to distinguish true DIBD from the behavioral fluctuations of these disturbed children. Fifteen percent of children subsequently improved on the same regimen, 40% improved when the offending drug was stopped and another treatment was started, and the remainder had adverse response to many medications.


CONCLUSIONS
DIBD is a complex phenomenon that does not lend itself to simple conclusions and requires further study.
Carlson
Gabrielle A
GA
State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794-8790, USA.
Mick
Eric
E
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs