Am J Psychiatry 1982; 139:913-915
Copyright © 1982 by American Psychiatric Association
A case of familial exhibitionism in Tourette's syndrome successfully treated with haloperidol
DE Comings and BG Comings
The authors describe a 32-year-old man with Gilles de la Tourette's
syndrome whose most severe symptom was exhibitionism. Treatment with low
doses of haloperidol eliminated all exhibitionistic urges. This patient's
oldest son has multiple tics and his nephew has Tourette's syndrome with
mild exhibitionism. The major implications of this case are that 1) all
patients with compulsive-type exhibitionism should be carefully questioned
about symptoms of Tourette's syndrome and, if positive, be given a trial
regimen of haloperidol; 2) some patients with compulsive exhibitionism and
no symptoms of Tourette's syndrome have a genetic, neurochemical disorder
and respond to haloperidol.
