Heart Medication Can Also Lower Aggressive Behavior In People, Study Finds

Beta adrenergic-blocking agents (beta-blockers) are often prescribed to patients suffering from hypertension, cardiovascular issues, heart failure, arrhythmias, migraines, hyperthyroidism, and glaucoma.
 
The drugs have been effective in reducing symptoms and helping people keep their conditions under control. However, a recently-published study shows that it’s not just their well-being that can be kept under control, but their anger as well.
 
The analysis published in PLOS Medicine details how Seena Fazel from the University of Oxford UK and a team down at the Karolinska Institute in Sweeden studied a group of 1.4 million beta-blocker users from 2006 to 2013. They found that those on treatment had a 13% lower risk of being charged with violent crimes. On top of this, there was an 8% lower risk of them being hospitalized due to a psychiatric disorder and an 8% increased chance of being treated for suicidal behavior.
 
These findings might indicate that psychological distress and other disabilities associated with severe cardiac problems, rather than the beta-blocker treatment, raise the likelihood of serious psychiatric events. Earlier studies have linked serious cardiac events to an increased risk of depression and suicide.
 
Though the test needs further studying if it is confirmed beta-blockers could be used to manage anger in individuals. Fazel notes that this could lead to repurposing the use of the drug to aid patients in overcoming aggressive and suicidal behavior.
 
 

[via Neuroscience News Science Magazine and The Times, Photo 106687642 © Skypixel | Dreamstime.com]