Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors for the treatment of perseverative and maladaptive behaviours of people with intellectual disability

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disability research Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 301 - 306
• Main Authors: Branford, D., Bhaumik, S., Naik, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.08.1998
• Subjects: Adult; Autistic Disorder - drug therapy; Autistic Disorder - psychology; Drug Therapy, Combination; England; Female; Fluoxetine - adverse effects; Fluoxetine - therapeutic use; Humans; Intellectual Disability - drug therapy; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Learning disabled people; Maladaptive behaviour; Male; Middle Aged; Paroxetine - adverse effects; Paroxetine - therapeutic use; perseverative behaviour; Retrospective Studies; selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors; Serotonin reuptake inhibitors; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - adverse effects; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Social Behavior Disorders - drug therapy; Social Behavior Disorders - psychology; Stereotyped Behavior - drug effects; Treatment; Treatment Outcome; England
• ISSN: 0964-2633; 1365-2788
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2788.1998.00144.x

A retrospective case‐note analysis was undertaken of 37 adults with intellectual disability who lived in Leicestershire, England. The subjects were prescribed one of two selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, i.e. fluoxetine or paroxetine, for perseverative and maladaptive behaviours. The SSRIs proved to be of no benefit for 15 subjects (40%) and led to a deterioration in a further nine cases (25%). However, some reduction of perseverative and maladaptive behaviours was achieved in 13 cases (35%). There was no difference in the responses to fluoxetine or paroxetine.