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Vulnerability to neuroleptic side effects in frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Author(s) -
Pijnenburg Y. A. L.,
Sampson E. L.,
Harvey R. J.,
Fox N. C.,
Rossor M. N.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.774
Subject(s) - frontotemporal lobar degeneration , parkinsonism , disinhibition , dementia , psychology , extrapyramidal symptoms , psychiatry , frontotemporal dementia , medicine , pediatrics , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , disease , antipsychotic
Background Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is commonly associated with behavioural disturbances such as disinhibition and aggression; these often result in the use of neuroleptic medication. Methods All available case notes of patients attending a specialist cognitive disorders clinic with a diagnosis of FTLD were selected. This gave 100 subjects (62 male, 38 female). Results In 61 patients significant behavioural disturbances were present. Of these patients, 24 had been prescribed neuroleptics. Significant extrapyramidal side effects were reported in eight patients (33%); in five patients these were severe enough to cause severe mobility problems and in one patient resulted in impaired consciousness. In some instances the extrapyramidal side effects took weeks to wear off. Conclusion These results suggest that patients with FTLD may, as in Lewy body dementia, be particularly sensitive to the extrapyramidal side effects of neuroleptics. We suggest that neuroleptics should be used cautiously in FTLD and treatment should be started at low doses avoiding depot preparations until further prospective studies have been performed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.