[Behavioral disorders secondary to benzodiazepine therapy]

Abstract

This report adds three cases to those previously published of paradoxical reactions to benzodiazepines. The clinical syndrome, more or less complete, is fairly stereotyped, with behavioural disorders, tendency to feelings of hostility and aggressiveness and total anterograde amnesia. Personal and environmental factors seem to play a prominent role in its development. The classical contra-indication of benzodiazepines following such reactions is discussed, and the hypothesis that mamillary-thalamic benzodiazepine receptors play a part in their genesis is envisaged.