Case Report

Volume: 2 | Issue: 2 | Published: Apr 04, 2018 | Pages: 39 - 41 | DOI: 10.24911/ejmcr/2/11

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report


Authors: Natalia Szejko , Ewgeni Jakubovski , Carolin Fremer , Katja Kunert , Kirsten Mueller-Vahl


Article Info

Authors

Natalia Szejko

1. Clinic of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany 2. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland 3. Department of Bioethics, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland

Ewgeni Jakubovski

Clinic of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Carolin Fremer

Clinic of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Katja Kunert

Clinic of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Kirsten Mueller-Vahl

Clinic of Psychiatry, Socialpsychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Publication History

Received: February 14, 2018

Revised: March 08, 2018

Accepted: March 11, 2018

Published: April 04, 2018


Abstract


Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder manifesting by motor and vocal tics. In severe, treatment resistant cases of TS cannabis-based medicine could be used alternatively as a rescue therapy Case presentation: We present the case of an 8-year-old boy with severe Tourette syndrome (TS) and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who significantly benefitted from treatment with cannabis-based medicine. During an episode with increased tics he became depressed, developed suicidal ideation and exhibited separation anxiety resulting in social isolation. As treatment with various antipsychotics and Habit Reversal Training turned out to be unsuccessful, we implemented therapy with oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as oil-based drops. Starting dose was as low as 0.7 mg THC/day once a day and was gradually increased up to maximum dose of 29.4 mg THC/day resulting in a significant improvement of both tics and behavioral symptoms. Follow-up visits over a period of 4 months demonstrated a sustained treatment effect without any adverse events. Conclusion: From this single case report it is suggested that THC is effective and safe in the treatment of tics, depression and ADHD in children with severe and otherwise treatment resistant TS.

Keywords: case report, THC, Tourette syndrome, tics, cannabis, children


Pubmed Style

Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Carolin Fremer, Katja Kunert, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report. EJMCR. 2018; 04 (April 2018): 39-41. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/2/11

Web Style

Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Carolin Fremer, Katja Kunert, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report. https://ejmcr.com/articles/1566 [Access: December 25, 2024]. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/2/11

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Carolin Fremer, Katja Kunert, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report. EJMCR. 2018; 04 (April 2018): 39-41. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/2/11

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Carolin Fremer, Katja Kunert, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report. EJMCR. (2018), [cited December 25, 2024]; 04 (April 2018): 39-41. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/2/11

Harvard Style

Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Carolin Fremer, Katja Kunert, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl (2018) Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report. EJMCR, 04 (April 2018): 39-41. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/2/11

Chicago Style

Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Carolin Fremer, Katja Kunert, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl. "Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report." 04 (2018), 39-41. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/2/11

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Carolin Fremer, Katja Kunert, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl. "Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report." 04.April 2018 (2018), 39-41. Print. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/2/11

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Natalia Szejko, Ewgeni Jakubovski, Carolin Fremer, Katja Kunert, Kirsten Mueller-Vahl (2018) Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for the treatment of a child with Tourette syndrome - case report. , 04 (April 2018), 39-41. doi:10.24911/ejmcr/2/11