The effects of diazepam on human self-aggressive behavior.
BACKGROUND
Diazepam, a benzodiazepine with a relatively rapid onset of clinical effects, has been associated with suicide and other self-aggressive acts. The evidence for this association, however, comes exclusively from retrospective non-experimental studies. Although suggestive, the results of these studies do not support a cause-and-effect relationship between benzodiazepine consumption and self-aggressive behavior.


OBJECTIVE
To experimentally examine the effect of diazepam on human self-aggressive behavior under controlled laboratory conditions.


METHODS
Forty-six healthy men and women were randomly assigned to receive placebo, or 5 mg or 10 mg diazepam in a double-blind, between-groups design. Participants were then provided the opportunity to self-administer electric shocks during a competitive reaction-time task (the self-aggression paradigm, SAP). Self-aggression was defined by the intensity of shock chosen.


RESULTS
Diazepam (10 mg) was associated with higher average shock self-administered than placebo. Subjects receiving 10 mg diazepam were also more likely to attempt to self-administer a shock that they were led to believe was "severe" and painful. Sedation effects were found, but diazepam consumption did not impair memory, attention, concentration, pain threshold, or reaction-time performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinically relevant diazepam doses may be associated with self-aggressive behaviors at levels that do not significantly impair basic cognitive processes or psychomotor performance.
Department of Psychology, The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025, USA. mitchell.berman@usm.edu
Mitchell E
ME
Berman
Gabriele D
GD
Jones
Michael S
MS
McCloskey
D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004597:Electroshock / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012646:Self Administration; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000209:etiology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam