Treatment of ballism and pseudobulbar affect with sertraline.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of ballism is uncertain and may involve more than one mechanism; treatment is not always efficacious.


OBJECTIVE
To provide evidence of a nondopaminergic mechanism and the potential for a prompt and nearly complete response to a serotonergic agent.


METHODS
Report of 2 separate trials of sertraline hydrochloride in a single patient.


RESULTS
Complete remission of symptoms within 48 hours of each drug trial.


CONCLUSIONS
Sertraline may offer an alternative with a better adverse effect profile than dopamine receptor blockers in the treatment of patients with ballism.
Okun
M S
MS
Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga, USA.
Riestra
A R
AR
Nadeau
S E
SE
D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline