Table 2 Examples of some agents used to reduce violence and aggression
From: The physician's unique role in preventing violence: a neglected opportunity?
Medications for alcoholism | Naltrexone and acamprosate in sober alcoholics to reduce craving and relapse [63, 64]; prazosin in alcoholism with PTSD for caving and relapse [127]. |
Nutritional factors | Essential omega 3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) in bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder; multiple vitamins and minerals with DHA and EPA in young male prisoners, and in children [53, 57–59, 128]. |
Lithium | In children and adults, in personality disorders, and in combination with other anticonvulsants or atypical antipsychotics [40, 48]. |
Beta-blockers | Propranolol in brain-injury, autism, schizophrenia, organic mental disorders [37, 129]. |
Anticonvulsants | Carbamazepine/oxcarbazepine in impulsive violence and in elderly [32, 36]; phenytoin in prisoners and in intermittent explosive disorder [32, 38, 49, 130]; Topriamate in borderline personality disorder and in depression [40]; valproate/divalproex in a variety of psychiatric conditions [32, 40]. |
Antidepressants | Flouxetine in personality disorders [131], and in domestic abuse when combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and alcohol treatment [132]; trazodone in dementia associated aggression [133]. |
Atypical antipsychotics | Clozapine in schizophrenia [33, 134]; quetiapine in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder [33, 40]; Loxapine in schizophrenic and psychosis [40], olanzapine in schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder [33, 40]; aripiprazole in schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders and borderline personality disorder [33, 40]; risperidone in a variety of psychiatric illness [40]. |