Risperidone treatment of children and adolescents with chronic tic disorders: a preliminary report.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this trial was to investigate the short-term safety and efficacy of risperidone in the treatment of chronic tic disorders in children and adolescents.

METHOD:

This was an 11-week open-label trial and included seven subjects (five boys and two girls) with a mean age of 12.9 +/- 1.9 years. The sample included five patients with Tourette's syndrome and two with chronic motor tic disorder. The children were seen at baseline and for two follow-up visits. Three children had a comorbid diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

RESULTS:

Clinical response, as measured by the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale and the Children's version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, revealed a statistically significant reduction in tic scores ranging from 26% [corrected] to 66%. One of three children with comorbid OCD showed substantial improvement; the other two subjects showed no change. The most frequent side effect was weight gain, which ranged from 8 to 14 lb.

CONCLUSIONS:

Risperidone, a neuroleptic with both serotonin- and dopamine-blocking properties, appears to be effective in reducing tic frequency and intensity in children and adolescents with chronic tic disorders.

• Authors: P J Lombroso, L Scahill, R A King, K A Lynch, P B Chappell, B S Peterson, C J McDougle, J F Leckman
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry) Vol. 34 Issue 9 Pg. 1147-52 (Sep 1995) ISSN: 0890-8567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7559308 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Risperidone

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antipsychotic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (complications, drug therapy)
• Child
• Chronic Disease
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (complications, drug therapy)
• Pilot Projects
• Risperidone (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Tic Disorders (complications, drug therapy)
• Tourette Syndrome (complications, drug therapy)
• Weight Gain