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


METHODS
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.
Lombroso
P J
PJ
Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-7900, USA.
Scahill
L
L
King
R A
RA
Lynch
K A
KA
Chappell
P B
PB
Peterson
B S
BS
McDougle
C J
CJ
Leckman
J F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D015430:Weight Gain
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone