Case series on the use of aripiprazole for Tourette syndrome

Characterized by multiple motor and phonic tics, Tourette syndrome (TS) is also associated with a constellation of comorbid disorders, including obsessive–compulsive symptoms that occur in 40–60% of patients. The pathophysiology of tics has been linked by many studies to specific cortical and basal ganglia changes and hypothesized to relate to dysregulation of dopamine responsive/dependent circuits (Jordan et al., 2004). Aripiprazole, a recently released atypical antipsychotic noted for its partial D2 agonist activity along with a low propensity for extrapyramidal effects, has been shown to be efficacious in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia in adults. The value of aripiprazole for treating neuropsychiatric disorders in children has not previously been reported. We present results of a retrospective chart review of six youth with TS and comorbid obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) who were treated for 12 wk with aripiprazole.