The first-ever Finnish study dealt with the association between use of painkillers and anti-depressants to the risk of homicide. Researchers claim that there is actually a scientific basis that psychotropic drugs may cause violent behavior.
"I think that these chemical substances affect the impulse control of the person," Dr. Jari Tiihonen, lead author and a professor, told Medical Daily. "The only surprising result was that painkillers also increase the risk," he added.
Studies in the past have investigated bodies of knowledge regarding the side effects of antidepressants. However, this is the first study to create a probe on the possible side effects of some pain killers and antidepressants specifically benzodiazepam in change of behavior among its users.
"On the basis of our results, benzodiazepines and painkillers, but not antidepressants are linked to an significantly higher risk," Tiihonen said.
Medical News Today reports that Dr. Tiihonen stated specific criteria that should be fulfilled and met to properly investigate the proposed association between drug use and the commitment of a crime. He said that the sample should be representative, the reason for drug usage should be considered, the effect needs to be controlled and the effects of other drugs used in adjunct with the antidepressants should also be considered.
To land to their findings, the researchers analyzed data from the Finnish Homicide Database of the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy and the Finnish Prescription Register of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. The data were collated and categorized based on the use of prescription drugs among 959 convicted murderers before committing the crime in Finland between 2003 and 2011.
After thorough analysis of the data, they found no significant link between the use of antipsychotics to increased risk of homicide but there is an increased 31% risk of committing homicide with the use of antidepressants.
