ABSTRACT
The effects of three benzodiazepines on human aggressive behavior were examined in 44 medically healthy men. Volunteers were administered either placebo, 10 mg diazepam, 15 mg chlorazepate, or 50 mg oxazepam orally using double-blind procedures. Approximately 90 min after drug ingestion, participants were given the opportunity to administer electric shocks to an increasingly provocative fictitious opponent during a competitive reaction-time task. Aggression was defined as the level of shock the participant was willing to administer to the opponent. Results support the notion that diazepam (but not all benzodiazepines) can elicit aggressive behavior under controlled, laboratory conditions. Implications regarding the clinical use of various benzodiazepines for the tranquilization of potentially assaultive patients are discussed.
Subject(s)
Aggression/drug effects , Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use , Clorazepate Dipotassium/therapeutic use , Diazepam/therapeutic use , Oxazepam/therapeutic use , Adult , Double-Blind Method , Humans , Male , Reaction Time/drug effectsABSTRACT
In a retrospective archive study, 64 adjudicated adult cases involving the murder or attempted murder of at least one parent, referred for forensic evaluations are described. Biographic, demographic, diagnostic, crime scene, psycholoegal opinion, and disposition data are presented. Results indicated a 40% rate of insanity acquitees. Attempted parricide subjects were more likely to have inpatient psychiatric histories, witnesses present during the criminal act, nonresponsiveness towards their actions, competency raised, and a hospital disposition. Gender and ethnicity were found to have a significant effect on ultimate disposition. Fifty-four percent of the sample opined psychotic were sentenced to prison, suggesting other factors considered by judge and jury. Profile characteristics and typologies are presented. The findings are compared to studies involving parricide and legal strategies involving similar cases.
Subject(s)
Domestic Violence/psychology , Forensic Psychiatry , Homicide/psychology , Parent-Child Relations , Adolescent , Adult , Domestic Violence/statistics & numerical data , Female , Homicide/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Forty male undergraduate students ingested either a high dose of alcohol or a placebo and were provided with feedback regarding their risk of receiving electric shock from an opponent in a competitive reaction-time situation. Intoxicated subjects (blood concentration of 96mg/dL) responded more aggressively than did the sober subjects on measures of physical aggression. Results indicated that the feedback manipulation had no effect on the aggressive responses of the intoxicated subjects. The findings are discussed in terms of current cognitive models of alcohol-related aggression.
