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Sertraline as a treatment option for temper outbursts in Prader–Willi syndrome
Author(s) -
Deest Maximilian,
Jakob Maximilian Michael,
Seifert Johanna,
Bleich Stefan,
Frieling Helge,
Eberlein Christian
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1552-4833
pISSN - 1552-4825
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.a.62041
Subject(s) - sertraline , quality of life (healthcare) , medicine , psychiatry , psychology , pediatrics , antidepressant , psychotherapist , anxiety
Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by lack of the paternal copy of maternally imprinted, paternally expressed genes at the chromosome 15q11‐13 region. In most cases, it is caused by a paternal deletion or a maternal disomy of chromosome 15. Behavioral problems with temper outbursts are common and often combined with physical aggressiveness and self‐injury. They are the most frequent cause for a reduced quality of life in adulthood and represent a serious challenge for the individual and those surrounding the individual in everyday life. Until now, no promising pharmaceutical treatment option has been established, and only a few case reports on treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been reported. In this case series, we investigated the effect of the SSRI sertraline in 14 individuals with PWS frequently showing severe temper outbursts with aggressiveness and self‐injuries. After 6 months of treatment with sertraline, 13 of 14 patients (92.6%) either no longer displayed temper outbursts or showed a significant decrease in frequency and severity of temper outbursts. In one case, treatment was stopped due to severe sleep abnormalities. We conclude that sertraline is a promising and safe treatment option for severe temper outbursts in patients with PWS.