Relationship between benzodiazepine prescription, aggressive behavior, and behavioral disinhibition: a retrospective study in a Swiss prison

Baggio, Stéphanie; Starcevic, Vladan; Heller, Patrick; Brändle, Karen; Franke, Irina; Schneeberger, Andreas; Buadze, Anna; Gamma, Alex; Schleifer, Roman; Gétaz, Laurent; Wolff, Hans; Liebrenz, Michael

doi:10.1186/s12954-021-00504-5

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Baggio, S., Starcevic, V., Heller, P., Brändle, K., Franke, I., Schneeberger, A., Buadze, A., Gamma, A., Schleifer, R., Gétaz, L., Wolff, H., & Liebrenz, M. (2021). Relationship between benzodiazepine prescription, aggressive behavior, and behavioral disinhibition: a retrospective study in a Swiss prison. Harm Reduction Journal, 18, 58. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-021-00504-5

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed in prisons amidst the controversies surrounding their potential role in causing behavioral disinhibition and aggressive behavior and their association with use and trafficking of illicit and addictive substances. The present study aimed to (1) ascertain the relationship between benzodiazepine prescription (including their dosage and duration of use) and aggressive behavior and behavioral disinhibition in prison and (2) investigate whether there was an association between benzodiazepi