Episodic Dyscontrol: A Study of 130 Violent Patients

The authors report a two-year study of 130 patients with a chief complaint of explosive violent behavior. When pertinent and possible, neurological and psychological tests, EEGs, pneumoencephalograms, and other tests were made. The authors noted that the patients' lives mirrored their backgrounds: family histories revealed a high incidence of violence and alcoholism. The patients reported that they had frequently sought help in the past for control of violent impulses, but usually in vain. The authors believe that severe psychopathology should not exclude neurological examination and management, nor should positive neurological findings exclude psychiatric management. A plea is made to view these patients as having a multidetermined problem.