Drug-induced dystonia in neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis.

Neuroleptic-induced tardive dystonia is frequently refractory to therapy. We describe a 13-year-old girl with neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis who developed dystonia after beginning treatment with thioridazine for acute psychosis. Although anticholinergic drugs and benzodiazepines were ineffective, the patient improved with baclofen. Patients with certain degenerative diseases of the central nervous system may be at increased risk for the development of drug-induced dystonia, and we caution against the use of neuroleptics in these patients.