Pharmacological Treatment Options for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children and Adolescents

@article{Leskovec2008PharmacologicalTO,
  title={Pharmacological Treatment Options for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children and Adolescents},
  author={Thomas J Leskovec and Brieana M. Rowles and Robert L. Findling},
  journal={Harvard Review of Psychiatry},
  year={2008},
  volume={16},
  pages={97–112}
}
&NA; Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) are frequently associated with dysfunctional behaviors and are characterized by deficits in socialization, communication, and behavioral rigidity. Despite the absence of a pharmacological cure for PDDs, many of the dysfunctional, coinciding behaviors may be treated pharmacologically. This article reviews what is known about the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of children and adolescents… 
View on Wolters Kluwer
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
75 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
1
Background Citations
26

75 Citations

Citation Type

Citation Type

Comorbid Behavioral Problems and Psychiatric Disorders in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders are common among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), including those often regarded nonspecifically as “autistic behaviors,” rather than…
Review of pharmacotherapy options for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD-like symptoms in children and adolescents with developmental disorders.
TLDR
What is known about the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of children and adolescents suffering from developmental disorders and comorbid ADHD/ADHD-like symptoms is reviewed.
Treatment of comorbid anxiety and autism spectrum disorders.
TLDR
Evidence is growing in support of using cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat anxiety in youths with ASDs; however, mixed evidence exists for its application in treating repetitive behaviors, as well as the use of selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors for anxiety in youngsters with AsDs.
Translation of Anxiety Treatment to Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Clinically significant anxiety affects many youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and is associated with a number of functional consequences. Building from treatment approaches of anxiety in…
Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Schizophrenia
TLDR
This chapter will review some of the recent advances in the current understanding of autism spectrum disorders and clarify the similarities and differences in presentation between autism and childhood onset schizophrenia.
Management of Symptoms in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Comprehensive Review of Pharmacologic and Complementary-Alternative Medicine Treatments
TLDR
A review of 115 studies adds to the ASD treatment literature by aggregating studies of pharmacologic treatments and CAM treatments and organizing treatment response by ASD symptoms, differentiating core and associated symptoms.
Autism and aging: hardly out of the woods.
  • J. Wick, G. Zanni
  • Medicine
    The Consultant pharmacist : the journal of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
  • 2009
TLDR
Because the onset of autism occurs in early childhood, long-term care practitioners are more apt to encounter older adults who were misdiagnosed in childhood who are now reaching old age with the need for long- term care facilities.
Psychotropic drug efficacy and side effects for persons with autism spectrum disorders
Polypharmacy profiles and predictors among adults with autism spectrum disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that presents as a spectrum with various co-morbid symptoms as well as cognitive traits. This chapter reviews diagnosis, putative etiologies, neurocognitive…
...
1
2
3
4
5
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 122 REFERENCES
Novel treatments for autistic spectrum disorders.
  • S. Levy, S. Hyman
  • Medicine
    Mental retardation and developmental disabilities research reviews
  • 2005
TLDR
Secretin as a therapy for autism is discussed as an example of how a clinical observation rapidly grew to a widespread treatment before well-designed studies demonstrated absence of effect.
An update on pharmacologic treatments for autism spectrum disorders.
  • B. King, J. Bostic
  • Medicine
    Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America
  • 2006
TLDR
Large multisite networks (Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology; Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment) have been constructed to expedite studies to elucidate effective treatments for ASD.
Pharmacotherapy for Hyperactivity in Children with Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders
We reviewed pharmacological treatments used in children with autism and PDD-NOS who present with hyperactive symptoms. Some 41 studies were identified from the following drug categories:…
Advances in Drug Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders
TLDR
Antipsychotics are the most widely studied drugs for reducing symptoms in children and adolescents with autism, and a number have been investigated, based on theories about the aetiology of autism, including SSRIs and naltrexone, although the efficacy of these agents has been limited.
Practice parameters for the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Working Group on Quality Issues.
Donepezil in the Treatment of ADHD-Like Symptoms in Youths With Pervasive Developmental Disorder
TLDR
Dementia work in dementia documents improvement in executive function deficits with the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil, and it is reasoned that similar benefits could be obtained in PDD.
Venlafaxine in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Open Retrospective Clinical Report
TLDR
Control treatment trials with venlafaxine are warranted in autism spectrum disorders after improvement was noted in repetitive behaviors and restricted interests, social deficits, communication and language function, inattention, and hyperactivity.
Fluoxetine treatment of children and adults with autistic disorder and mental retardation.
TLDR
Double-blind studies of the efficacy of pharmacological agents that potently inhibit 5-HT uptake in the treatment of mental retardation coexisting with Axis I psychiatric disorders (especially obsessive-compulsive disorder) and autistic disorder are warranted.
Epilepsy in autism
Efficacy of Methylphenidate Among Children with Autism and Symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
TLDR
Results suggest that methylphenidate can be efficacious for children with autism and ADHD symptoms, however, this group of children seems to be particularly susceptible to adverse side effects.
...
1
2
3
4
5
...