Category: Pediatric Movement Disorders
Objective: To assess the clinical characteristics and rate of antipsychotic medication discontinuation in a pediatric cohort diagnosed with Tourette syndrome (TS).
Background: It is estimated that most (eg, >85%) individuals with TS will have ≥1 comorbid psychiatric condition during their lifetime, but real-world data on psychiatric comorbidities at time of TS diagnosis are limited. Patients with TS and comorbid conditions are likely to be treated with antipsychotics (dopamine D2 receptor antagonists/partial agonists [D2RAs]), which are linked to adverse effects that can negatively impact quality of life and treatment adherence.
Method: Data (10-year identification period) were analyzed from a US health records database of pediatric patients newly diagnosed with TS. The cohort was stratified by D2RA medication use via identification of at least 1 D2RA medication record (indexed on date of first medication record). A minimum of 1 provider encounter was required at least 18 months prior to index date and during 18-month follow-up period. A record of medication use was calculated monthly.
Results: Overall, 12,015 patients had TS [table], with the most common comorbid psychiatric conditions, among those examined, being ADHD and anxiety. A total of 1684 patients were included in the D2RA cohort, with risperidone and aripiprazole being the 2 most common D2RAs at index [figure1]. Over time, evidence of D2RA use progressively decreased, most dramatically, between Months 2 and 3. Risperidone and aripiprazole use was 82.9% and 81.7% lower, respectively, during Month 18 compared with index [figure1]. Other D2RA use exhibited a similar trend over time [figure2].
Conclusion: A large percentage of children had psychiatric comorbidities at the time of first D2RA use. D2RA treatment decreased considerably during the 18 months following initiation, with up to 61.2% of individuals no longer having evidence of D2RA use (suggesting discontinuation) by Month 3 and 82.1% by Month 18.
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To cite this abstract in AMA style:
K. Tomczak, J. Swindle, F. Dabbous, G. Karkanias, S. Atkinson, F. Munschauer, F. Mazhar, C. Pettersson, S. Wanaski, T. Cunniff, D. Isaacs. Clinical Characteristics and Antipsychotic Medication Use in Pediatric Population Diagnosed With Tourette Syndrome [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-characteristics-and-antipsychotic-medication-use-in-pediatric-population-diagnosed-with-tourette-syndrome/. Accessed November 20, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/clinical-characteristics-and-antipsychotic-medication-use-in-pediatric-population-diagnosed-with-tourette-syndrome/