Could psychotropic drugs make one more likely to murder another person? New research suggests drugs affecting the nervous system, such as painkillers and antidepressants could bring about homicidal behavior.
A first-of-its kind study associated painkillers and tranquillizing benzodiazepines with a significantly elevated risk of homicide, and antidepressants with a mild one, the University of Eastern Finland reported. The study was based on concerns that these drugs cause violent behavior, largely triggered by massacres committed by young persons in recent years.
"It has been repeatedly claimed that it was the anti-depressants used by the persons who committed these massacres that triggered their violent [behavior]. It is possible that the massive publicity around the subject has already affected drug prescription practices," said lead researcher professor Jari Tiihonen.
To make their findings, a team of researchers looked at the prescription drug use of 959 individuals convicted of a homicide through data taken from the Finnish Homicide Database of the In-stitute of Criminology and Legal Policy, and the Finnish Prescription Register of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Kela.
After confounding factors were controlled for the findings revealed antidepressants were linked to a 31 percent increased risk of homicide, and benzodiazepines upped homicide risk a significant 45 percent; opiate painkillers raised homicide risk 92 percent and anti-inflammatory painkillers raised risk a whopping 206 percent (100 percent meaning risk doubles). The findings were even more significant; the highest risk associated for these individuals was as high as 95 percent for benzodiazepines and 223 percent for opiate painkillers.
"Benzo-diazepines can weaken impulse control, and earlier research has found that painkillers affect emotional pro-cessing. Caution in prescribing benzodiazepines and strong painkillers to people with a history of substance abuse is advisable," Tiihonen said.
The findings were published in a recent edition of the journal World Psychiatry.
