Drugs, therapy can calm explosive personality
Dear Dr. Roach: I have a relative who fits the description of intermittent explosive disorder, which I recently read about. Could you please tell me what kind of therapy a person would need if diagnosed with this problem?
T.M. Intermittent explosive disorder is an impulse control disorder: an inability to restrain behaviours related to emotions. As the name suggests, people with intermittent explosive disorder have periodic bursts of aggressive behaviour. The behaviour can be verbal or physical, and is grossly out of proportion to the situation. The outbursts are impulsive and unplanned, and importantly, cause distress to the person. I suspect most readers will not find it hard to think of someone who has had these kinds of outbursts, but the formal diagnosis requires the person to meet strict criteria. The diagnosis is usually made by a mental health professional.
There are many risk factors, including family history and prior history of abuse or neglect. Genetics is suspected to cause about half the risk for developing this condition. It is more common in men.
Treatment might be with medication such as the SSRI fluoxetine (Prozac), with cognitive behavioural therapy or both. Cognitive behavioural therapy encompasses 12-20 one-hour sessions. Alternative medications are available for those who do not do well with Prozac.
While I have heard friends and family members excuse such behaviour (“that’s just the way she is” or “he’s always had a terrible temper”), people with intermittent explosive disorder might cause injury to people or animals, cause property damage and get in legal trouble. Most importantly, treatment is usually effective.
Dear Dr. Roach: My doctor wants to put me on Prolia. I read in a previous column that you didn’t like to prescribe this drug. I would like to share your thoughts with my doctor, but I can’t recall your thoughts. Can you share this information with me again?
V.F. Denosumab (Prolia) blocks the formation of a cell called the osteoclast. These cells normally break down bone, and are normally balanced by the bone building activity of osteoblasts. They create new bone.
In older women and men, the activity of osteoclasts is greater than the activity of the osteoblasts. This causes a net loss of bone density and bone strength, leading to fracture risk. The process is common, and proceeds through mild stages like low bone density to osteoporosis.
Bisphosphonate drugs, such as alendronate (Fosamax), also work by decreasing the activity of osteoclasts. They have much more robust data on effectiveness, so they are the first-line treatment for most people who take medication for osteoporosis. However, these drugs have their own issues, including adhering to some very specific requirements while taking the drug: fasting, taking the pills with only water, remaining upright for 30 minutes after taking it, etc. For people who can’t do this or just don’t want to, denosumab is a reasonable alternative, even if more expensive than generic alendronate.
A previous column cautioned against using denosumab after a long course of bisphosphonate therapy. This combination can increase the risk of a complication, atypical femur fractures, and I typically use a medication to stimulate bone growth, such as teriparatide.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu