Prozac and crime: who is the victim?

Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2002 Jul;72(3):445-55. doi: 10.1037/0002-9432.72.3.445.

Abstract

Prozac has been cited in more medication defense criminal cases in the United States than has any other psychotropic drug. In the majority of these cases, defendants are arguing that they are the victims of the drug. Defendants assert that they are victimized by their own involuntary intoxication or that of witnesses and crime victims who have been adversely influenced by Prozac. This article reviews 12 criminal cases in the United States in which Prozac victimization is a salient theme, and it calls for mental health professional organizations to intervene in a growing legal conundrum.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / chemically induced*
  • Antisocial Personality Disorder / epidemiology
  • Crime / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Crime / statistics & numerical data*
  • Crime Victims*
  • Female
  • Fluoxetine / adverse effects*
  • Homicide / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Homicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Insanity Defense
  • Male
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Fluoxetine