[Aripiprazole - a medical treatment alternative for Tourette Syndrome in childhood and adolescence].
OBJECTIVE
We report a case-series of seven patients with a medical history of at least two years of tic disorder treated with the partial dopamine agonist aripiprazole to illustrate its efficacy as a treatment alternative for motor and vocal tics in children and adolescents.


METHODS
A case series of five patients with Tourette Syndrome (TS) and two with chronic motor tic disorder (age range 8; 7-18; 1 year), the majority of whom had been refractory to treatment with other neuroleptics or had ceased treatment due to intolerable side effects, were treated for eight weeks with aripiprazole. Before and after treatment, parents rated the severity of motor and vocal tic symptoms on the Yale Tourette Syndrome Checklist.


RESULTS
Within eight weeks mean motor tic symptoms decreased by 66% and mean vocal tic symptoms decreased by 26%. Mean effective dosage was 14.3 mg/day (min. 5 mg, max. 30 mg). Symptoms of comorbid ADHD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder were not significantly influenced. During medication only mild side effects were observed, e.g., abdominal pain, fatigue and increased emotional sensitivity. No patient dropped out of treatment due to side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Aripiprazole may be an effective pharmacologic treatment alternative for individuals with chronic motor tic disorder and TS. It induces quick, significant and sustained effects with few generally mild and transient side effects, if anything. Its effectiveness, especially relative to comorbidities, should be verified in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.
Frölich
Jan
J
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und, Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit, J 5, DE - 68072 Mannheim. praxis-dr-froelich@t-online.de
Starck
Martina
M
Banaschewski
Tobias
T
Lehmkuhl
Gerd
G
D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole