Method of treatment of aggression

Abstract

The invention comprises a method of treatment of aggression and similar behavioral syndromes, such as impulsivity and irritability, by a pharmaceutical agent exhibiting combined D2 and D5 antagonistic activity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating aggression and/or similar behavioral syndromes including irritability and impulsivity in a human subject, comprising the steps of:
 a) selecting several active agents with known activity (e.g., agonist or antagonist) on at least one dopaminergic, serotonergic or gabaergic receptor where the opposite activity is associated with aggressive behavior;   b) conducting a receptor screening assay on these same receptor families with each of the active agents to identify activity for at least one additional receptor having a known association with undesired (i.e., aggressive) behavior;   c) determining if said activity is agonistic or antagonistic in nature;   d) by the results of steps b) and c), choosing among the screened active agents at least one that targets the most diverse types of aggression-associated receptors;   e) optimizing the total dose of the active agent(s), taking into account results of steps b)-d).   f) administering the dose of step (e) to the mammalian subject.   
     
     
         2 . A method of treating aggression and/or similar behavioral syndromes by a pharmaceutical agent exhibiting combined D2 and D5 antagonistic activity, wherein the total dosage of the pharmaceutical agent is smaller than the dosage anticipated on the basis of only D2 activity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical agent is molindone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutical agent is administered at a dose that is 50% or less of a dose indicated for the use of molindone as an antipsychotic agent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutical agent is administered in a dose range of from 10 mg/day to 200 mg/day. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutical agent is administered in a dose range of from 15 mg/day to 120 mg/day. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the side effects associated with molindone administration are decreased. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , where the number of incidences of at least one side effects selected from drowsiness, depression, hyperactivity, euphoria, extrapyramidal reactions, akathisia, akinesia, dystonic syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, tachycardia, nausea, dry mouth, urinary retention, and constipation is decreased. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said administration results in reduction of the undesirable behavior and in tolerable side effects. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  when said mammalian subject is a child. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said subject is diagnosed with at least one condition selected from ADHD, bipolar, autism, and post traumatic stress disorder. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said subject is diagnosed with at least one condition selected from ADHD, bipolar, autism, and post traumatic stress disorder.