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Violence Caused by Prescription Medication

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Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence

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Abstract

Psychotropic drugs were developed through serendipity. In Europe in the 1900s, promethazine was used to treat circulatory shock, when a French surgeon noticed patients on promethazine became calm and somnolent. From there, chlorpromazine, reserpine, and the benzodiazepines made their entry. These drugs were considered symptomatic treatments and were used irrespective of any underlying psychiatric diagnosis. Gradually, the idea took hold that these drugs were treating certain disorders instead of just sedating patients.

Tranquillizers were renamed antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, hypnotics, and mood stabilizers. Side effects as “an interesting inversion of clinical manifestations” were soon noted. Agitation turned into depression, and psychotic reactions and increased anxiety occurred, as did suicidal ideation and acts. Extremely violent homicides were noted in both adults and children. Akathisia, agitation, mania, and emotional blunting were present in many individuals committing acts of violence. Many psychotropic drugs react with monoamine neurotransmitters, interfering with the brain’s neural network leading to chemical lobotomies and dysexecutive syndromes.

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Abbreviations

Ach:

Acetylcholine

ADHA:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

CYP450:

Cytochrome P450

DA:

Dopamine

EM:

Extensive metabolizer

EPS:

Extrapyramidal symptoms

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

GABA:

Gamma-aminobutyric-acid

GSK:

GlaxoSmithKlein

HAM-D:

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

5-HT:

5-hydroxytryptamine, serotonin

IM:

Intermediate metabolizer

NIMH:

National Institute of Mental Health

NE:

Noradrenaline

OCD:

Obsessive compulsive disorder

PM:

Poor metabolizer

PMDD:

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

SSRI:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

SK&F:

Smith, Kline & French

UM:

Ultrarapid metabolizer

UK:

United Kingdom

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Forensic Services, Santa Fe, NM, USA

    Selma J. M. Eikelenboom-Schieveld

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA

    James C. Fogleman

Authors
  1. Selma J. M. Eikelenboom-Schieveld
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  2. James C. Fogleman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James C. Fogleman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Health and Wellbeing, University of Suffolk, Ipswich, UK

    Colin R. Martin

  2. Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Vinood B. Patel

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Eikelenboom-Schieveld, S.J.M., Fogleman, J.C. (2023). Violence Caused by Prescription Medication. In: Martin, C.R., Preedy, V.R., Patel, V.B. (eds) Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31547-3_24

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