Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects one-percent of all adults and much has been learned recently of its neurologic correlates.
Stuttering has been associated with excessive cerebral activity of the
neurotransmitter,
dopamine. Pharmacologic research has suggested that older generation
dopamine antagonist (i.e. "typical
antipsychotic") medications improve
stuttering symptoms, but are associated with poorly tolerated adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of
olanzapine, a novel
dopamine antagonist (or "atypical
antipsychotic"), versus placebo in the treatment of adult
developmental stuttering. Twenty-four adults who stutter participated in a twelve-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at two separate sites. Subjects received either
olanzapine (2.5 mg titrated to 5 mg) or matching placebo. Subjects were rated on an objective measure of
stuttering severity (SSI-3), a clinician based global impression (CGI), and a subject-rated self-assessment of
stuttering (SSS). Subjects were also monitored for potential side-effects. Twenty-three of the twenty-four subjects enrolled in the trial successfully completed the full course of the study.
Olanzapine was statistically superior to placebo on the three ratings of
stuttering severity, the SSI-3, the CGI and SSS (p < .05).
Olanzapine is a promising medication for the treatment of
stuttering and further research is warranted.