Comparison of Therapeutic Efficacy between Haloperidol and Risperidone in Tic Disorders

Oh, Eun Young; Shin, Yun Mi; Lee, Myung Soo; Chung, Young Ki; Park, Jin Hee

Abstract

Tourette's syndrome is a heritable neuropsychiatric disorder that begins in childhood. No known medication suppresses tics completely, and the dopamine receptor antagonists-haloperidol and pimozide-for Tourette's syndrome often either produce or risk intolerable side effects that preclude their use. Clinical trials of risperidone, a benzisoxazole derivative with potent 5-HT 2 and D 2 receptor binding properties, have indicated that it is a safe and effective alternative to haloperidol in the treatment of schizophrenia. Fifty-four patients with Tourette's syndrome (n=20) and chronic motor or vocal tic disorder (n=34) were recurited from the outpatient clinic of the psychiatry of university. The research was started with 0.5 mg/d risperidone, haloperidol which was increased based on the severity of symptoms. Severity of clinical symptoms were assessed at baseline, 4, 8 and 16 weeks evaluation symptom using the Yale Global Tic Severity scale. In conclusion, YGTSS scores of the two groups were significantly improved at the end when compared with baseline. We did not find significant difference in side effects between haloperidol and risperidone group. But, easy fatigue, acute dystonia, constipation were less reported in risperidone group. As a result, the treatment of both groups demonstrated significant improvement on the severity of tic symptoms 8, 16 weeks later.