Treating the violent patient with psychosis or impulsivity utilizing antipsychotic polypharmacy and high-dose monotherapy

CNS Spectr. 2014 Oct;19(5):439-48. doi: 10.1017/S1092852914000388. Epub 2014 Aug 14.

Abstract

Insufficient treatment of psychosis often manifests as violent and aggressive behaviors that are dangerous to the patient and others, and that warrant treatment strategies which are not considered first-line, evidence-based practices. Such treatment strategies include both antipsychotic polypharmacy (simultaneous use of 2 antipsychotics) and high-dose antipsychotic monotherapy. Here we discuss the hypothesized neurobiological substrates of various types of violence and aggression, as well as providing arguments for the use of antipsychotic polypharmacy and high-dose monotherapy to target dysfunctional neurocircuitry in the subpopulation of patients that is treatment-resistant, violent, and aggressive. In this review, we focus primarily on the data supporting the use of second-generation, atypical antipsychotics both at high doses and in combination with other antipsychotics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Aripiprazole / therapeutic use
  • Benzodiazepines / therapeutic use
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Clozapine / therapeutic use
  • Dibenzocycloheptenes
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior*
  • Isoxazoles / therapeutic use
  • Lurasidone Hydrochloride / therapeutic use
  • Olanzapine
  • Paliperidone Palmitate / therapeutic use
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Polypharmacy
  • Psychotic Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Psychotic Disorders / metabolism
  • Psychotic Disorders / psychology
  • Quetiapine Fumarate / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism
  • Risperidone / therapeutic use
  • Thiazoles / therapeutic use
  • Violence / classification
  • Violence / prevention & control*
  • Violence / psychology

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents
  • DRD2 protein, human
  • Dibenzocycloheptenes
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings
  • Isoxazoles
  • Piperazines
  • Piperidines
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Thiazoles
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Quetiapine Fumarate
  • ziprasidone
  • Aripiprazole
  • Clozapine
  • asenapine
  • Risperidone
  • Olanzapine
  • Lurasidone Hydrochloride
  • Paliperidone Palmitate
  • iloperidone