Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Successfully Treated with Aripiprazole in a Patient with Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms Including Irritability

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, and patients often present with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We herein report a case of DMD accompanied by ASD that was successfully treated with aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic that has been used for treating irritability in child and early adolescent patients with ASD. The patient was diagnosed as having DMD at 3 years of age. Although he developed severe psychotic symptoms including irritability, insomnia, hallucinations, and delusions at 17 years of age, all the symptoms were successfully treated with aripiprazole without any detectable side effects.