Sleep Disturbance as a Precursor of Severe Regression in Kleefstra Syndrome Suggests a Need for Firm and Rapid Pharmacological Treatment

Clin Neuropharmacol. 2017 Jul/Aug;40(4):185-188. doi: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000226.

Abstract

Intellectual disability is frequently accompanied by psychiatric symptoms that require pharmacological interventions. Treatment guidelines often provide a general treatment approach for these symptoms in intellectual disability. However, this may not always be the best strategy, as illustrated here in Kleefstra syndrome. We present 3 patients showing severe regression after sleep disturbances. If these are treated with care as usual (eg, behavioral programs and sleep medication) deterioration is likely to follow. It is observed that rapid treatment with relatively high dosages of antipsychotics contributes to restore sleep, halt further regression, and improve daily life functioning.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antipsychotic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Chromosome Deletion
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities / complications
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities / diagnosis
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities / drug therapy*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / complications
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnosis
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / complications
  • Intellectual Disability / diagnosis
  • Intellectual Disability / drug therapy*
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / complications
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / diagnosis
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antipsychotic Agents

Supplementary concepts

  • Kleefstra Syndrome