TREATMENT OF AGGRESSIVE-CHILDREN WITH CLONIDINE - RESULTS OF AN OPEN PILOT-STUDY

Seventeen aggressive children (14 boys and 3 girls) aged 5 to 15 years , who were characterized by cruel behavior to others and destruction o f property, entered an open pilot study using clonidine to evaluate it s efficacy and safety and drug-induced changes in plasma gamma aminobu tyric acid (GABA). Aggression decreased in 15 children with minimal si de effects. In five cases, GABA increased from 105.4 +/- 15.2 ng/mL at baseline to 125.2 +/- 10.8 ng/mL at follow-up (p < 0.01). A sixth pat ient was noncompliant. These findings suggest that GABA may be correla ted with childhood aggressiveness and may be a useful marker of drug c ompliance. Pharmacotherapy with clonidine should be further assessed f or the control of aggression.