Lithium Treatment of Aggressive Behaviorin Depressed, Drug-Dependent Patients

Four non-bipolar I methadone-maintenance patients with irritability and aggressiveness were treated with lithium. Three had met criteria for childhood conduct disorder and all four had adult antisocial features. In each case there was a noticeable reduction in aggression and an improvement in functioning. This finding suggests that there is a treatable subgroup of drug-dependent patients with antisocial behavior.