Aggression is a transnosographical dimension in psychiatric patients. The aim of the present study was to explore the aggressive dimension in acute hospitalised patients, with regard to the pharmacotherapeutical approach.

351 patients were consecutively admitted to a psychiatric ward during a 12 months period. Aggressive behaviours were analysed using the MOAS scale, at admission (T0) and at discharge (T1), after 12.4 ± 8.8 days. General psychopathology was assessed via BPRS, at T0 and T1.

Aggressive behaviours occurred in 8.9% of the cases during the hospitalization. Male gender, compulsory admission status, comorbid substance abuse, a recent history of aggressive behaviours were significantly associated with an increased risk of committing aggressive acts (p<0.05). Antipsychotics were the most frequently prescribed medications (76.6% of the cases). The effects of each antipsychotic medication on the amelioration in MOAS score and BPRS score were presented in Fig. 1a and 1b respectively. Percent of amelioration in BPRS score was significantly correlated with amelioration in MOAS score (r=0.35, p<0.0001).

The results evidenced small but significant differences among antipsychotic drugs regarding the efficacy on aggressive dimension. However, further researches are warranted to provide a better qualification of antipsychotic drugs on aggressive dimension.