Therapeutic effects and long-term efficacy of antidepressant medication for persons with developmental disabilities - Behavioral assessment in two cases of treatment-resistant aggression and self-injury

Recent advances in pharmacological treatment of severe behavior disorders i n persons with developmental disabilities suggest the use of antidepressant medication for therapeutic management. This research evaluated two antidep ressant medications for treatment-resistant aggression and self-injury exhi bited by two persons with developmental disabilities. Behavioral assessment data documented that sertraline (a serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor) was effective in reducing self-injurious behaviors in a 20-year-old man wi th severe mental retardation and clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant) was associated with the elimination of aggressive behavior in a l l-year-ol d boy with autism. Clinical effects from the medications were measured in r elation to and shown to be a function of dosage level. Extended follow-up a ssessments revealed maintenance of treatment gains with continued medicatio n administration.