Antidepressants reverse the inhibition of shock-induced aggression elicited by a prior inescapable shock.

Animals were exposed to long-duration inescapable shock (IS) and six days later submitted in pairs to a foot-shock session in order to induce shock-elicited aggression (SIF). Shocked rats subsequently displayed a lower aggressive response as compared to unshocked animals. This reduction was prevented by repeated treatment with different antidepressant drugs administered either prior or following IS exposure. In addition, rats chronically administered with antidepressant drugs before the IS showed less inactivity during the application of the uncontrollable aversive event. These data indicate that persistent administration with these pharmacological compounds prevent the induction and impede the further expression of the reduced aggressive response induced by a previous IS.