title: Treatment of ballism and pseudobulbar affect with sertraline.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Okun
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Riestra
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nadeau
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline