SERTRALINE IN ADULTS WITH PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS - A PROSPECTIVE OPEN-LABEL INVESTIGATION

The short-term efficacy and tolerability of sertraline for adults with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) were assessed in this invest igation. Forty-two adults with PDDs (autistic disorder, N = 22; Asperg er's disorder, N = 6; and PDD not otherwise specified [NOS], N = 14) p articipated in a 12-week, open-label, systematic trial of sertraline. Behavioral ratings of repetitive symptoms, aggression, and social rela tedness were obtained at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of sert raline administration. Twenty-four (57%) of 42 patients showed signifi cant improvement, primarily in repetitive and aggressive symptoms. Sta tistically significant changes in measures of social relatedness did n ot occur. Patients with autistic disorder and PDD NOS did significantl y better than those with Asperger's disorder. Based on global improvem ent item criteria from the Clinical Global Impression Scale, 15 of 22 (68%) patients with autistic disorder, none of six (0%) patients with Asperger's disorder, and 9 of 14 (64%) patients with PDD NOS were cate gorized as treatment responders. Sertraline was well tolerated; no adv erse cardiovascular effects, extrapyramidal symptoms, or seizures were identified. These findings suggested that sertraline may be an effect ive treatment for interfering repetitive and aggressive symptoms in ad ults with PDDs. Definitive statements about the efficacy and tolerabil ity of sertraline for treating adults with PDDs must await results fro m double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. These preliminary results s hould not be generalized to include children and adolescents with PDDs .