Pharmacologic interventions for antagonism and related disorders

As the field of psychiatry further develops its understanding of the complex interplay of biological and psychosocial factors which influence development, personality, and psychopathology, we approach improved and more comprehensive interventions for antagonism-related symptoms. Although psychotherapy remains the principal treatment modality for antagonistic behaviors mediated by personality-based features, a comprehensive understanding of medical illness, psychiatric comorbidities, and/or biologically mediated contributions to illness is warranted. Few pharmacologic clinical trials have examined the effects of pharmacotherapy specifically on the personality trait of antagonism. Instead, antagonistic behaviors such as interpersonal dysfunction and aggression have been used as proxies for the study of antagonism in patients with varied mental health diagnoses. This chapter will review the evidence for the utilization of several classes of psychiatric medication in the treatment of antagonistic traits, primarily in the context of personality disorder treatment.