Pharmacologic management of aggressivity and self-mutilation in the mentally retarded.

The use of pharmacologic agents in the control of aggression and self-mutilation in the mentally retarded is controversial but at times necessary for the implementation of behavioral treatments. The choice of drug is often empirical, as the specific etiology of aggression is generally unknown. On the other hand, certain rare conditions may be treated specifically. Controlled therapeutic studies are still lacking, as most treatments are symptomatic and nonspecific.