For half a century, beta-blockers have been used to help patients with cardiovascular problems manage arrhythmias, but a new study that followed more than a million people shows that this common It turns out that the drug may also reduce aggression and violent behavior.
Beta-blockers were originally developed in the 1960s to treat angina, a heart condition, but have since been repurposed for everything from glaucoma to migraines. Perhaps most interesting is the use of beta-blockers for psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and PTSD.
Beta-blockers work by interfering with the action of hormones such as adrenaline and norepinephrine and are thought to be useful in treating a variety of behavioral problems, but to date, most studies have focused on small cohorts and We focused only on anecdotal data.
Propranolol, a commonly prescribed beta-blocker, has long been used informally by musicians and performers as a tool to manage stage fright. In 2008, a double gold-medal-winning Olympic medalist tested positive for a beta-blocker after drug testing. was stripped of the award for shooting.
This new study took a holistic approach to the subject, examining 1.4 million health records of patients treated with beta-blockers. Each patient was followed for up to eight years, and the researchers focused on the association between beta blocker use and psychiatric problems, violent crime, and suicidal behavior.
Interestingly, the researchers found no evidence that beta-blocker use was effective in reducing anxiety rates, at least in terms of anxiety-related hospitalizations. , detected an indication that drugs may reduce the risk of being prosecuted for a violent crime by 13%.
“In a real-world study of 1.4 million people, beta-blockers were associated with reduced violent crime accusations in individuals with mental disorders,” said the University of Oxford study working on the study. author Seena Fazel said. Managing aggression and violence may improve patient outcomes. “
Susana P. Gaytán Guía of the University of Seville called the new study rigorous and balanced. According to Gaytán Guía, the findings are of clinical value and should aid future research into potential new uses for common heart drugs.
“It’s a very rigorous study with a very large study population and it seems to be gender balanced. So the prospects for future research and the clinical use it proposes are very much considered.” Specifically, their study of the whole population found no consistent association between beta-blockers and psychiatric outcomes. It seems to me that this is highly related to a reduction in violence. We suggest that the drug’s use be investigated further.”
Exactly how beta blockers might specifically affect aggressive behavior is still unclear. We have speculated several potential mechanisms, ranging from drugs that suppress adrenergic activity in .
Ultimately, the researchers concluded that more research is needed to better understand the potential effects of these drugs on aggressive behavior. Medications can help manage aggression in people with psychosis.
A new study was published in pros medicine.
Source: Pros
