Psychotropic medications may cut risk of violent reoffending

A study by the University of Oxford, looking at rates of violent re-offences among former prisoners in Sweden, has shown that prescribing psychotropic medications can cut the risk of violent reoffending. Prescribing ex-prisoners psychotropic medications after release is associated with a decrease in reoffending, according to a new study led by the University of Oxford. The researchers looked at released prisoners from across Sweden between 2005 and 2010, who were prescribed antipsychotics, psychostimulants and drugs for addictive disorders, and followed until end of 2013. By comparing the periods when they were and were not prescribed these medications, the researchers were able to show a drop in the rate of violent reoffending while they were receiving treatment. Of the 22,275 released prisoners in the study, 4,031 committed violent re-offences in the follow-up period, amounting to 5,653 individual incidents. Antipsychotic medications were associated with a 42% reduction in the rate of violent reoffending, psychostimulants with a 36% reduction in this rate, and for drugs used in addictive disorders there was 52% drop. No significant reductions were found for antidepressants or antiepileptic medications.