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The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in young children with pervasive developmental disorders: some

G A Awad1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON.

Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie
|August 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) showed positive effects for some young children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), particularly those with anxiety and repetitive behaviors. Further research is needed to confirm efficacy and identify optimal treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychiatry
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) encompass a range of neurodevelopmental conditions affecting social interaction and communication.
  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants with potential applications in pediatric psychopharmacology.

Observation:

  • An open clinical trial investigated the effects of SSRIs in children under seven years old diagnosed with PDD.
  • The study focused on assessing changes in specific behavioral and emotional symptoms associated with PDD.

Findings:

  • SSRIs demonstrated positive therapeutic effects in approximately 50% of the young participants.
  • Improvements were most notable in children exhibiting obsessional, repetitive, and anxiety-related symptoms.
  • Medication discontinuation occurred in 50% of cases, with 25% due to symptom exacerbation and 25% due to uncertain side effects.

Implications:

  • SSRIs may represent a viable treatment option for specific symptoms in young children with PDD.
  • Further rigorous studies employing standardized outcome measures are essential to define the precise role of SSRIs in PDD treatment.
  • Identifying which children and which PDD-related symptoms respond best to specific SSRI medications requires further investigation.
Abstract

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