BackgroundIndividuals with repetitive or impulsive aggression in the absence of
other disorders may be diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder
according to DSM–IV, but no such diagnostic category exists in ICD–10.
Mood stabilisers are often used off-license for the treatment of
aggression associated with a variety of psychiatric conditions, but their
efficacy in these and in idiopathic aggression is not known.AimsTo summarise and evaluate the evidence for the efficacy of mood
stabilisers (anticonvulsants/lithium) in the treatment of impulsive or
repetitive aggression in adults.MethodA meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials that compared a mood
stabiliser with placebo in adults without intellectual disability,
organic brain disorder or psychotic illness, identified as exhibiting
repetitive or impulsive aggression.ResultsTen eligible trials (489 participants) were identified A pooled analysis
showed an overall significant reduction in the frequency/severity of
aggressive behaviour (standardised mean difference (SMD) =–1.02, 95% CI
−1.54 to −0.50), although heterogeneity was high (I2 = 84.7%). When analysed by drug type, significant effects
were found in the pooled analysis of three phenytoin trials (SMD =–1.34,
95% CI −2.16 to −0.52), one lithium trial (SMD =–0.81, 95% CI −1.35 to
−0.28), and two oxcarbazepine/carbamazepine trials (SMD =–1.20, 95% CI
−1.83 to −0.56). However, when the results of only those studies that had
a low risk of bias were pooled (347 participants), there was no
significant reduction in aggression (SMD =–0.28, 95% CI −0.73 to 0.17,
I2 = 71.4%).ConclusionsThere is evidence that mood stabilisers as a group are significantly
better than placebo in reducing aggressive behaviour, but not all mood
stabilisers appear to share this effect. There is evidence of efficacy
for carbamazepine/oxcarbazepine, phenytoin and lithium. Many studies,
however, were at risk of bias and so further randomised controlled trials
are recommended.
Structural and Functional Alterations in Right Dorsomedial Prefrontal and Left Insular Cortex Co-Localize in Adolescents with Aggressive Behaviour: An ALE Meta-Analysis
