Clonidine in 50 Children with Intellectual Disability: A Naturalistic Study
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Authors
Swanepoel, Annie
Maitra, Raka
Botros, Mona
Puttaswamaiah, Shoba
Liew, Ashley
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Issue Date
01/10/2025
Type
Journal article
Language
Keywords
Children and Young People
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: Children with intellectual disability (ID) are more susceptible to adverse effects from standard psychiatric medications, often necessitating the use of off-label treatments. In the limited studies to date, Clonidine has displayed evidence of benefit in treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sleep onset difficulties, behaviors that challenge, and tics.
Methods: This naturalistic study involved a cross-sectional survey completed by 4 consultant psychiatrists, detailing 50 children with ID treated with Clonidine over a 3-year period. Data collected included treatment indications, dosage, and retrospective Developmental Disabilities Modification of Children's Global Assessment Scalescores to evaluate functioning before treatment and again 6-12 months later.
Results: Among children who remained stable on Clonidine, ordinal regression analyses revealed that total Clonidine dose, level of ID, concomitant medications, and comorbid diagnoses significantly predicted improved functioning at 2 months, which was sustained after 1 year of treatment with Clonidine.
Conclusions: Clonidine is useful to treat ADHD, sleep difficulties, tics, and behaviors that challenge. Clonidine was generally well tolerated and appears to be an effective treatment option for children with ID. This will inform the clinical practice of both pediatricians and psychiatrists who support and treat children with ID.
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Citation
J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2025 Oct;35(8):479-483. doi: 10.1177/10445463251366159. Epub 2025 Aug 7. PMID: 40779406.
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Journal
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology
Volume
35
Issue
8