HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

A double-blind comparison of desipramine and placebo in children and adolescents with chronic tic disorder and comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
Currently, there is no consensus on the best therapeutic approach to chronic tic disorders and comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To address this issue, we evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of the noradrenergic tricyclic antidepressant desipramine hydrochloride in the treatment of children and adolescents with chronic tic disorders and comorbid ADHD.
METHODS:
Forty-one children and adolescents with chronic tic disorders, including Tourette disorder and comorbid ADHD, were studied in a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial. Desipramine was titrated weekly up to 3.5 mg/kg per day. We rated ADHD and tic symptoms weekly and monitored adverse effects, laboratory findings, and cardiovascular parameters.
RESULTS:
Treatment with desipramine (mean total daily dose, 3.4 mg/kg per day) was well tolerated without meaningful adverse effects. Desipramine significantly reduced core symptoms of ADHD (ADHD Rating Scale; 42% decrease from baseline relative to placebo, P<.001), with equal response in inattentive symptoms and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms (P<.001 for both). The ADHD response rate was robust (71% vs 0%; desipramine vs placebo, P<.001). Likewise, desipramine significantly reduced tic symptoms (Yale Global Tic Severity Scale; 30% decrease from baseline relative to placebo, P<.001), with equal response in motor and phonic tic symptoms (P<.01 for both). The tic response rate was substantial (58% vs 5%; desipramine vs placebo, P<.001). There were small but statistically significant differences between desipramine and placebo in heart rate and blood pressure.
CONCLUSIONS:
Treatment with desipramine was well tolerated and was associated with robust clinically significant reductions in tic and ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents with chronic tic disorders and ADHD diagnoses.
AuthorsThomas Spencer, Joseph Biederman, Barbara Coffey, Daniel Geller, Margaret Crawford, Sarah Kate Bearman, Reem Tarazi, Stephen V Faraone
JournalArchives of general psychiatry (Arch Gen Psychiatry) Vol. 59 Issue 7 Pg. 649-56 (Jul 2002) ISSN: 0003-990X [Print] United States
PMID12090818 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
Chemical References
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Placebos
  • Desipramine
Topics
  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Desipramine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Placebos
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales (statistics & numerical data)
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Tic Disorders (diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
  • Treatment Outcome

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: