Vortioxetine-Lurasidone Augmentation for Compulsive Scratching Behavior in Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Case Report

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder frequently associated with repetitive and self-injurious behaviors such as skin picking. Effective pharmacological treatments for compulsive scratching behavior in PWS remain limited.

We report the case of a 19-year-old woman with PWS presenting with severe, persistent scratching behavior resulting in repeated excoriations. Escitalopram produced partial improvement but was discontinued because of sedation. Treatment was switched to vortioxetine, which reduced the frequency of scratching but did not achieve remission. Subsequent augmentation with lurasidone resulted in marked improvement, with episodes decreasing from daily occurrences to once every 1-3 months and lasting only a few minutes. The patient remained stable for 2 years without recurrence of severe symptoms.

This case suggests that vortioxetine and lurasidone may represent a potential pharmacological option for severe scratching behavior in PWS. Further studies are needed to clarify the therapeutic role of this combination approach.