ARIPIPRAZOLE IN TOURETTE'S DISORDER AND EXPLOSIVE OUTBURSTS

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This study hypothesizes that aripiprazole, which has been shown to be effective in the treatment of psychotic and manic-depressive disorders, will be more effective than placebo in reducing the severity of explosive outbursts in children and adolescents with Tourette's Disorder (TD), as assessed by measuring the frequency, intensity, and duration of explosive outbursts. The study will test the efficacy and safety of a relatively safe drug when used in adults as a treatment of TD in children and adolescents. The endpoints are a variety of different neuropsychiatric tests, administered by the staff, that will measure tic, frequency, anger, range, and outbursts. A newly devised test, the Rage Severity Scale, will be administered, and the effects of treatment measured on this scale will be compared to more traditional assessments. The study is a placebo-controlled, 6-week trial with increasing doses of aripiprazole versus placebo. Treatment and placebo groups of 15 are planned, as early information suggests a very significant impact of this drug in TD (p<10-12) using a small number of treated individuals. Within-person changes will be assessed longitudinally.