Fluvoxamine treatment of a child with severe PDD: A single case study

Recent reports suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are useful in the treatment of individuals with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. We report on a single case study of the use of fl uvoxamine with a 7-year-old Caucasian girl with severe pervasive developmen tal disorder. Our findings indicate that fluvoxamine was significantly effe ctive in reducing stereotypical, repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and aggress ion and in improving prelinguistic and social behaviors. Our results indica te that the use of the SSRIs as a platform for the longterm habilitation of these children should be considered, but further studies are required to e stablish the efficiency of fluvoxamine for the treatment of children with a utism.