Efficacy of Fluoxetine in Developmental Coordination Disorder in Children

Abstract

Introduction

DCD is a motor skill disorder thatinterferes with children's (majority boys) ability to perform day to day activities. In addition to theirmotor coordination problem it generally interferes with academic performance, socialintegration and self esteem.

Methods

16healthy boys, age8-12 yrs with DCD. Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of DCD, basedon DSM IV criteria and a score below the suspected clinical cutoff on the Parent-reported Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Checklist for DCD (<15thpercentile). Exclusion Criteria: 1) Intellectual disability; 2) ADHD; 3) orthopedicor rheumatologic impairments; 4) Tic disorders; 5) acquired brain injury; 6) severesensory loss (visual /auditory); 7) other psychiatric disorders.

Procedure

Participantswere randomly divided into 2 groups. One who would receive (10mg/day) Fluoxetine(Experimental) and the other who would receive Placebo (Control).

Assessment

Participantswere assessed using CGAS at the beginningand end of the study period (3 months) and were statistically analyzed.

Results

There was no significantdifference between mean global score of the control group before and afterplacebo administration. When t score was computed in the experimentalgroup before and after administration of Fluoxetine, statistically significantdifference in the mean global score was noticed.

Conclusion

It is an established fact that DCD doesn't really improve on pharmacotherapy. Hence, Fluoxetine, an SSRI cannot beexpected to bring any change in the motor functionality of the childrensuffering from DCD, but, as the present study suggests, it may help the victimscope with the disorder better, probably by boosting self esteem.