A case of familial exhibitionism in Tourette's syndrome successfully treated with haloperidol

Abstract

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.