[Antipsychotics in the treatment of Tourette disorder: a review].
BACKGROUND
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder, characterised by the presence of multiple motor and vocal tics. Some GTS patients need pharmacological treatment. Patients who have a moderate to severe tic syndrome are usually treated with antipsychotics.


OBJECTIVE
To provide a literature review of the use of typical and atypical antipsychotics as well as dopamine agonists in patients with GTS.


METHODS
Publications in the Medline database from 1970 onwards were used, as well as literature references from books and book chapters. The following search terms were used: 'treatment', 'psychopharmaca', 'psychopharmacological treatment', 'medication', 'antipsychotics', 'D2 antagonists', 'D2 agonists' and 'atypical antipsychotics'. results A few controlled short-term studies had been performed on haloperidol, pimozide, risperidone and pergolide. These agents all appeared to be effective in the short term, with risperidone showing fewest side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Surprisingly few controlled studies have been performed on antipsychotics in GTS. Future studies should focus on what the second step should be in the case of treatment-resistant patients, on comparisons between drug therapy and behavioural therapy and on identifying predictors of drug response.
Cath
D C
DC
GGZ Buitenamstel en VU Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam. cath@xs4all.nl
Meynen
G
G
de Jonge
J L
JL
van Balkom
A J L M
AJ
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents