Atypical antipsychotic use in treating adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities

Atypical antipsychotic use in treating adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities

Friedlander R; Lazar S; Klancnik J

Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry

2001

Female; Humans; Male; Adult; Sex Factors; Benzodiazepines; adolescent; Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects/therapeutic use; Risperidone/adverse effects/therapeutic use; Movement Disorders/etiology; Mental Retardation/psychology; Pirenzepine/adverse effects/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use; Psychotic Disorders/drug therapy/etiology

OBJECTIVE: To study the usage, efficacy, and side effects patterns of atypical neuroleptics (atypicals) in adolescents and young adults with developmental disabilities (DDs) (mental retardation). METHOD: We undertook a chart review of adolescents and young adults (under age 25 years) seen by our specialized mental health team. RESULTS: Risperidone and olanzapine were by far the most frequently prescribed atypicals. Robust clinical effects were noted for both psychotic and nonpsychotic disorders. Most patients tolerated atypicals well, although a significant minority did experience neuroleptic induced movement disorders (NIMDs), particularly dystonias and dyskinesias. Female patients with DDs appear to be at particular risk of NIMDs. CONCLUSIONS: Atypicals are useful in treating various conditions associated with DDs. This population, however, seems particularly sensitive to NIMDs, hence caution and close monitoring are required.

2001

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