title: Neurobehavioral assessment of children and adolescents attending a developmental disabilities clinic.
abstract: Although the risk of the eventual development of tardive dyskinesia and other persistent adverse effects of neuroleptics is high, among adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities, neuroleptics may ameliorate dyskinesias, aggression, and inattention. The effects of traditional neuroleptics on a comparable population of children and adolescents with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities are unknown. The objective of this study was to develop an assessment battery to describe the effects of traditional neuroleptics on the behavior and movements of a small sample of children and adolescents with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. 13 children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years attending a developmental disabilities clinic were evaluated utilizing a Movement Assessment Battery to measure behavior and motions. Five subjects took traditional neuroleptic medications. Trained raters can reliably assess the movements and behaviors of children and adolescents with multiple handicaps. Children and adolescents with developmental disabilities may be vulnerable to experience functional impairment and akathisia, tics, and other dyskinesias when administered traditional neuroleptic medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. brasic@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: James Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brasić
authors.forename: Jacqueline Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kowalik
authors.forename: Margaret Owen
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Tsaltas
authors.forename: Raheela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010552:Personality Assessment; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents