A placebo-controlled trial of risperidone in Tourette syndrome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of risperidone in children and adults with Tourette syndrome.

METHODS:

This was an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The primary outcome measure was the Total Tic score of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS).

RESULTS:

Thirty-four medication-free subjects (26 children and 8 adults) ranging in age from 6 to 62 years (mean = 19.7 +/- 17.0 years) participated. YGTSS Total Tic scores were similar at baseline (26.0 +/- 5.1 for risperidone vs 27.4 +/- 8.5 for placebo). After 8 weeks of treatment (mean daily dose of 2.5 +/- 0.85), the 16 subjects on risperidone showed a 32% reduction in tic severity from baseline, compared to a 7% reduction for placebo patients (n = 18) (F[2,64] = 6.07; p = 0.004). The 12 children randomized to risperidone showed a 36% reduction in tic symptoms compared to an 11% decrease in the 14 children on placebo (F[2,48] = 6.38; p = 0.004). Two children on risperidone showed acute social phobia, which resolved with dose reduction in one subject but resulted in medication discontinuation in the other. A mean increase in body weight of 2.8 kg was observed in the risperidone group compared to no change in placebo (F[2,64] = 10.68; p = 0.0001). No extrapyramidal symptoms and no clinically significant alterations in cardiac conduction times or laboratory measures were observed.

CONCLUSION:

Risperidone appears to be safe and effective for short-term treatment of tics in children or adults with Tourette syndrome. Longer-term studies are needed to evaluate the durability of efficacy and safety over time.

• Authors: L Scahill, J F Leckman, R T Schultz, L Katsovich, B S Peterson
• Journal: Neurology (Neurology) Vol. 60 Issue 7 Pg. 1130-5 (Apr 08 2003) ISSN: 1526-632X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 12682319 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Dopamine Antagonists
• Risperidone

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Antipsychotic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Child
• Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological
• Dopamine Antagonists (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Erectile Dysfunction (chemically induced)
• Female
• Heart Conduction System (drug effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Phobic Disorders (chemically induced)
• Risperidone (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Tics (drug therapy, etiology)
• Tourette Syndrome (complications, drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome