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Buspirone for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Down Syndrome: 3 Cases
Yamini J Howe1,2,3, Robyn P Thom1,2,4, Erin E Notson5
1Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
Objective:
Reports on the pharmacologic treatment of anxiety, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are lacking.
Methods:
We present the case histories of 1 adolescent and 2 young adults with DS and the treatment course of comorbid GAD with buspirone.
Results:
Treatment with buspirone was safe and well-tolerated and resulted in sustained improvement in symptoms of anxiety for a minimum of 2 years in all 3 cases.
Conclusion:
Buspirone's generally benign adverse effect profile makes it well suited for treating anxiety in individuals with DS in light of their common medical comorbidities.
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