[Two cases of adult Down syndrome treated with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor for behavior disorders].

Abstract

Adult patients with Down syndrome show psychological symptoms and early senility. Improving their environment and dealing with their complaints and stress should first address their behavioral problems, such as self-injury, depression, aggression and outbursts. Pharmacological treatment may also be tried for behavioral disorders. Individuals with Down syndrome demonstrate neurotransmitter changes such as the loss of acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and serotonin (5-HT) with increasing age. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) is effective for depression and panic disorders. We report here the effect of SSRI in two adult male patients with Down syndrome, 35 and 47 years of age. Self-injury in one case and aggression and outbursts in another improved after 1 week of fluvoxamine treatment, suggesting the effects of SSRI for behavioral disorders of adult Down syndrome.

• Authors: Tsunenori Hirayama, Tomoko Kobayashi, Takehisa Fujita, Osamu Fujino
• Journal: No to hattatsu = Brain and development (No To Hattatsu) Vol. 36 Issue 5 Pg. 391-4 (Sep 2004) ISSN: 0029-0831 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 15461027 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
• Fluvoxamine

Topics

• Adult
• Depression (drug therapy, etiology)
• Down Syndrome (complications)
• Fluvoxamine (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Self-Injurious Behavior (drug therapy, etiology)
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome