Related Experiment Videos
Tourette-like disorder in Asperger's syndrome
C S Littlejohns1, D J Clarke, J A Corbett
1North Wales Hospital, Denbigh.
Summary
Haloperidol withdrawal in a child with Asperger's syndrome led to Tourette-like symptoms. Antipsychotic drugs did not improve core Asperger's features but did manage movement disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Asperger's syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social interaction and communication challenges.
- Haloperidol is a typical antipsychotic medication often used to manage behavioral disturbances in children.
Observation:
- An eight-year-old boy diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome received haloperidol for agitation and aggression.
- The patient experienced Tourette-like symptoms upon haloperidol withdrawal after two years of treatment.
- The patient had prenatal exposure to neuroleptic medications.
Findings:
- Neither haloperidol nor a second antipsychotic agent effectively treated the core symptoms of Asperger's syndrome.
- Antipsychotic medications were effective in suppressing the observed movement disorder (Tourette-like symptoms).
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential link between antipsychotic use and the emergence of movement disorders in individuals with Asperger's syndrome.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of neuroleptics in this population.
- Clinical practice should consider the risk-benefit ratio of antipsychotics for managing behavioral symptoms in Asperger's syndrome.