Carbamazepine in the treatment of aggressive behavior in schizophrenic patients: a case report

Abstract

Carbamazepine has been used in the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy since 1963. It has also been found effective in the treatment of psychiatric disorders accompanying epilepsy. Patients with nonspecific EEG abnormalities without overt epilepsy but with behavioral problems, including gross psychopathology and violent behavior, improve on carbamazepine. These findings prompted us to use it in the treatment of aggressive behavior in a schizophrenic patient. Due to the frequency and severity of aggressive behavior in this patient, maintenance ECT was given. However, when carbamazepine was instituted, ECT was discontinued and the patient has been virtually free from aggressive behavior since this medication has been instituted. The authors conclude that carbamazepine may be used in the treatment of aggressive behavior in schizophrenic patients.