Effectiveness of carbamazepine for benzodiazepine-resistant impulsive aggression in a patient with frontal infarctions

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2007 Dec;61(6):695-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2007.01737.x.

Abstract

Anticonvulsants have been used for the treatment of impulsive aggression since the 1980s. A 50-year-old man suffered from irritability and agitation after developing a right ipsilateral frontal lobe infarction as a result of Moyamoya disease; these symptoms caused difficulties with his working and interpersonal relationships. The patient had been treated using multiple benzodiazepine agents for 2 years but his symptoms had not improved. However, after treatment with carbamazepine (CBZ; 200 mg) was begun, the patient's irritability and agitation gradually decreased. The efficacy of CBZ treatment in this patient suggests a method for controlling benzodiazepine-resistant impulsive aggression.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aggression / drug effects*
  • Aggression / psychology
  • Antimanic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzodiazepines / therapeutic use*
  • Carbamazepine / therapeutic use*
  • Cerebral Infarction / complications*
  • Cerebral Infarction / pathology
  • Cerebral Infarction / psychology*
  • Drug Resistance
  • Electroencephalography
  • Frontal Lobe / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / therapeutic use*
  • Impulsive Behavior / drug therapy*
  • Impulsive Behavior / etiology
  • Impulsive Behavior / psychology
  • Irritable Mood / drug effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Moyamoya Disease / complications*
  • Moyamoya Disease / pathology*
  • Paresthesia / drug therapy
  • Psychomotor Agitation / drug therapy
  • Psychomotor Agitation / etiology

Substances

  • Antimanic Agents
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Carbamazepine