Behavioral Disinhibition, Suicidal Ideation, and Self-Mutilation Related to Clonazepam

Behavioral disinhibition has been described in children taking benzodiazepines (Barnett and Riddle, 2003). In one case series of four children with epilepsy, children developed aggressive and agitated behavior with clonazepam (Commander et al.1991). The case of a 9-year-old boy who was referred to an outpatient clinic from child neurology with excessive anger and irritability is presented. During the interview, he said that he wanted to die and planned to kill himself. He also stated that he would cut himself and showed razor blade wounds on his arms and chest. His self-mutilation was related to suicidal thinking.