Therapeutic Use of Propranolol for Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Intermittent explosive disorder is a syndrome characterized by episodic sudden outbursts of verbal abuse and physical violence in response to minor provocations. Propranolol has been proposed as a promising treatment for this cause of violent behavior. Of eight Mayo Clinic patients with intermittent explosive disorder who had been treated with propranolol between 1983 and 1985, five had substantial diminution or complete remission of symptoms. This response confirms the previously published reports of the effectiveness of propranolol in the treatment of intermittent explosive disorder.