Risperidone exerts potent anti-aggressive effects in a developmentally immature animal model of escalated aggression.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Risperidone has been shown to be clinically effective for the treatment of aggressive behavior in children, yet no information is available regarding whether risperidone exhibits aggression-specific suppression in preclinical studies that use validated developmentally immature animal models of escalated aggression. Previously, we have shown that exposure to low doses of the psychostimulant cocaine-hydrochloride (.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) during the majority of pubertal development (postnatal days [P]27-57) generates animals that exhibit a high level of offensive aggression. This study examined whether risperidone exerts selective aggression-suppressing effects by using this pharmacologic animal model of highly escalated offensive aggression.

METHODS:
Experimental hamsters were tested for offensive aggression after the acute administration of risperidone (.05-1.0 mg/kg, intraperitoneally).

RESULTS:
Risperidone dose-dependently reduced the highly aggressive phenotype, with a significant reduction observed at .1-.2 mg/kg for most aggressive responses measured. Experimental animals treated with higher doses of risperidone (.3-1.0 mg/kg) showed significant reductions in aggression and social interest toward intruders, indicating more general behavioral inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS:
These studies provide evidence that risperidone exerts specific aggression-suppressing effects in a developmentally immature animal model of escalated aggression.

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Author information

Author/s: Ricci, Lesley A (LA); Connor, Daniel F (DF); Morrison, Randall (R); Melloni, Richard H (RH);

Affiliation: Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Aug; vol 62 (issue 3) : pp 218-25

Dates: Created 2007/07/16; Completed 2007/09/04;

PMID: 17254557, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Age Factors
Aggression - drug effects
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Antipsychotic Agents - pharmacology
Cricetinae
Disease Models, Animal

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Impulsive Behavior - drug therapy
Least-Squares Analysis
Male
Mesocricetus
Risperidone - pharmacology
Social Behavior Disorders - drug therapy

Associated Chemicals: Antipsychotic Agents (0) ; Risperidone (106266-06-2)

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