VALPROIC ACID AS AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR IN A PATIENT WITH WOLF-HIRSCHHORN SYNDROME: A CASE REPORT
Öz
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) characterized by a microdeletion, often accompanied by maladaptive behaviors. First-line medical treatment involves antipsychotics; however, when antipsychotics prove insufficient, treatment options become limited. In this case, it was aimed to demonstrate that valproic acid as monotherapy could eliminate maladaptive behaviors in a patient diagnosed with WHS accompanied by self-injurious behavior. A 10-year 4-month-old female patient with WHS exhibited intense self-injurious behaviors. When her demands were not met, she would bang her head against the wall with significant force, risking severe traumatic injury, and bite her hand. She had previously received sufficient dosage and durations of aripiprazole and risperidone treatments without benefit. Valproic acid was initiated at a dose of 400 mg/day in divided doses. After the first month of treatment, the patient ceased the behavior of banging her head. Additionally, the behavior of biting her hand significantly decreased. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) score, initially assessed at 51 points, decreased to 28 points after the first month of treatment. The decrease in the ABC score was particularly marked in the subscales of irritability and social withdrawal.
This outcome suggests that in patients diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) where antipsychotics have failed, valproic acid as a mood stabilizer may be beneficial as monotherapy in reducing self-injurious behavior.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Valproic Acid, Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, Self-Injurious Behavior, 4p Deletion
Etik Beyan
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient’s legal guardian for the publication of this report. All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Teşekkür
The author would like to acknowledge Dr. Çağlar Uysal from the Department of Mental Health and Diseases, Ankara University, for his contributions during the review process.
Kaynakça
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