FLUOXETINE TREATMENT OF SEVERE SELF-INJURY IN YOUNG-ADULTS WITH MENTAL-RETARDATION

Dysfunction of the serotonergic system has been implicated in the deve lopment and maintenance of self-injury in some persons with mental ret ardation. Several preliminary reports have suggested that fluoxetine, a drug that blocks the reuptake of serotonin, may decrease self-injury in these individuals. Of the 44 cases of self-injury treated with flu oxetine and previously reported in the literature, 42 demonstrated a b eneficial response to the drug. We report four additional cases of adu lts with mental retardation whose self-injury was treated with fluoxet ine. Each of these individuals benefited from fluoxetine to some exten t, with average decreases in self-injury ranging from 20% to 88% when compared with baseline levels. These findings, combined with those fro m previously published case studies, emphasize the Deed for well-contr olled studies to more adequately assess the effects of fluoxetine on s elf-injury.