Diagnosis and treatment of obsessive compulsive behavior in a boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and autism spectrum disorder: A case report
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Phillipe Collin; Jos G.M. Hendriksen; Erik H. Niks; Brenda Wong; Sylvia Klinkenberg; Johan S.H. Vles
- Source
- Neuromuscular Disorders, 26(10), 659-661. Elsevier Science
Neuromuscular Disorders, 26(10), 659-661
- Subject
- Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Comorbidity
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Rating scale
Fluoxetine
mental disorders
Medicine
Humans
Medical history
Psychiatry
Child
Genetics (clinical)
business.industry
medicine.disease
030227 psychiatry
Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne
Mood
Neurology
Autism spectrum disorder
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
Autism
Neurology (clinical)
business
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
medicine.drug
- Language
- ISSN
- 1873-2364
0960-8966
We describe a case study of comorbid obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in a nine-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Patient history included persistent deficits in social communication and restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior: a diagnosis of autism spectrum was formalized. Due to serious disruption on social functioning and negative development of the obsessive behavior we decided to start pharmacotherapy. Fluoxetine 5 mg/day was started and gradually increased to 20 mg/day. A significant positive effect was observed by both parents and teacher in daily functioning. Although parents reported a positive change in mood, formal behavior rating by them did not reveal a significant effect, reflecting the insensitivity of general behavior rating scales. However, neuropsychological testing revealed a significant effect. This case report highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of complex neuropsychiatric comorbidities in DMD. It is the first scientific report on fluoxetine effectiveness in this patient group. Further research is needed.