title: Open-label study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole and haloperidol in the treatment of pediatric tic disorders.
abstract: Due to its unique pharmacodynamic properties of dopamine partial agonist activity, and its association with few and mild side effects, aripiprazole is a candidate atypical antipsychotic for patients with tic disorders. This open-label study compared the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole with haloperidol, a typical antipsychotic widely used to treat patients with tic disorders. Forty-eight children and adolescents with tic disorders were recruited from the outpatient clinic at South Korea and treated with aripiprazole (initial dose, 5.0 mg/d; maximum dose 20 mg/d) or haloperidol (initial dose, 0.75 mg/d; maximum dose, 4.5 mg/d) for 8 weeks. Treatment efficacy was measured using the yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS), and tolerability was measured using the extrapyramidal symptom rating scale (ESRS) and an adverse effects checklist. Total tic scores as measured by the YGTSS decreased over time in both groups (p < 0.001) without any significant differences between groups. ESRS scores were significantly higher in the haloperidol group during the 4 weeks after commencement of medication (p < 0.05). These results indicate that aripiprazole may be a promising drug in the treatment of children and adolescents with tic disorders. Further controlled studies are needed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 388-1 Pungnap-2 dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-736, South Korea. hiyoo@amc.seoul.kr
authors.forename: Hanik K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Joong-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyoung-Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Soon-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sujung J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jieun E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Pyo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013981:Tic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D006220:Haloperidol