Lack of Effect of Clonidine on Stuttering in Children

Althaus, Monika
Vink, Harry J.F.
Minderaa, Ruud B.
Goorhuis-Brouwer, Sineke M.
Oosterhoff, Menno D.

Received April 15, 1994; revision received Oct. 3, 1994; accepted Dec. 2, 1994. From the University Center of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Center for Voice, Speech and Language Pathology, University Hospital, Groningen, the Netherlands. Address reprint requests to Dr. Althaus, University Center of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Oostersingel 59, 9713 EZ Groningen, the Netherlands.
The authors thank Boehringer Ingelheim for supplying clonidine and for providing financial support for the study. They also thank the Department of Pediatrics and the pharmacy of the University Hospital, Groningen, for their cooperation.

American Journal of Psychiatry 152(7):p 1087-1089, July 1995.

Objective

The authors studied the effects of the alpha₂-receptor agonist clonidine on stuttering in children. Method: Using a double-blind crossover study, they gave placebo or 4 micrograms/kg body weight per day to 25 stuttering children who were 6-13 years old. Stuttering was measured by counting the occurrences of four elementary speech difficulties and by asking parents and teachers to give an overall impression of the amount of stuttering, as well as their impression of how troublesome the stuttering was to the children. Results: Clonidine did not improve stuttering. Conclusions: Clonidine cannot be recommended as a useful drug for treating children who stutter. (Am J Psychiatry 1995; 152:1087-1089)