Vol. 10, No. 2, 2004 Page 7


ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUG EFFECTIVE FOR ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR

A drug used to treat psychotic patients can also reduce behavior problems in antisocial individuals, according to a recent study.

C. Walker and colleagues administered the drug quetiapine (600 to 800 mg per day) to four patients with antisocial personality disorder. All of the subjects had been referred to a maximum-security inpatient psychiatric facility for pretrial evaluation.

"Quetiapine was effective in these patients," the researchers say, "as was indicated by a decrease in symptoms such as impulsivity, hostility, aggressiveness, irritability, and rage reactions."

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"Treating impulsivity, irritability, and aggression of antisocial personality disorder with quetiapine," C. Walker, J. Thomas, and T. S. Allen, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 47, No. 5, October 2003, 556-67. Address: C. Walker, Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center, 1612 Dawkins Road, LaGrange, KY 40031.

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