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Haloperidol -- its use in children

A C Serrano

    The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
    |April 1, 1981
    PubMed

    Insights

    Haloperidol effectively treats psychotic symptoms in children with autism and schizophrenia. It also helps manage Tourette's syndrome and behavioral issues in hyperactive children, improving their response to therapy.

    Area of Science:

    • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
    • Pediatric Neurology
    • Clinical Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Psychotic symptoms and behavioral disturbances present significant challenges in pediatric populations.
    • Limited pharmacological options exist for conditions like childhood autism, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome, and hyperactive disorders.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of haloperidol in children for various psychiatric and neurological conditions.
    • To assess haloperidol's utility in nonpsychotic, hyperactive, or aggressive children.

    Main Methods:

    • Clinical assessment of symptom relief and behavioral control.
    • Gradual dose titration to minimize side effects.
    • Monitoring for adverse events, particularly drowsiness and extrapyramidal symptoms.

    Main Results:

    • Haloperidol demonstrated safety and efficacy in alleviating psychotic symptoms in children with autism and schizophrenia.
    • It proved effective for Tourette's syndrome and beneficial in managing acute episodes in hyperactive or aggressive children.
    • Patients exhibited improved calmness and responsiveness to other therapies and educational instruction.

    Conclusions:

    • Haloperidol is a well-tolerated and effective treatment option for psychotic symptoms in children.
    • It offers a valuable therapeutic alternative for Tourette's syndrome and behavioral dysregulation in pediatric patients.
    • The drug enhances treatment response and educational engagement in affected children.

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