Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Violence: a Review of the Available Evidence

All published papers on Medline & other databases linking serotonin, SSRIs & aggression were reviewed. Results showed that a small proportion of patients treated with SSRIs may become akathisic & others may show increases in anxiety in the initial phases of treatment, but no increased susceptibility to aggression or suicidality could be connected with fluoxetine or any other SSRI. Implications are discussed. (62 refs)