Investigating the Efficacy of Paroxetine in Developmental Stuttering

Paroxetine has been reported to be useful for management of stuttering symptoms, but only a few reports have examined its effects. We have investigated the efficacy of paroxetine in a randomized, placebo-controlled study. Paroxetine did not affect the percentage of stuttered words between groups. Stuttering-associated movements, however, during speech in facial muscular districts were significantly reduced in subjects treated with paroxetine. Finally, paroxetine administration shortened the CSP with no effect on motor thresholds.Paroxetine may be useful in qualitative management of stuttering symptoms and may act on the stuttering brain by diminution of intracortical inhibition, as revealed by the shortening of the CSP after paroxetine administration.