Pharmacotherapy of emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairment in social communication and restricted patterns of behavior. Although there is no pharmacological treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the core symptoms of ASD, there is mounting support in the literature for the management of behavioral symptoms associated with this developmental disorder, in particular, irritability and hyperactivity. Aripiprazole and risperidone are currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of irritability in youth with ASD. Though not FDA-approved, methylphenidate and guanfacine are effective for the management of hyperactivity in children with ASD. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are often used in clinical practice to target anxiety and compulsions; however, there is little evidence to support its use in this population. There is a great need for further research on the safety and efficacy of existing psychotropic medications in youth with ASD, as well as the development of new treatment modalities for the core and associated behavioral symptoms.

Association among Autistic Traits, Treatment Intensity and Outcomes in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa: Preliminary Results

“…Antidepressant and antipsychotic should not be offered as the sole treatments for AN [17], unless atypical antipsychotics may be of some benefit in carefully selected clinical settings [16]. Relevantly, there are no drugs approved for treating core symptoms of ASD, even though psychopharmacological interventions could improve ASD-associated symptoms that adversely impact the life of individuals with ASD [29].…”

Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodevelopmental Regression Present a Severe Pattern After a Follow-Up at 24 Months

“…One of the most important benefits of determining a prognostic factor capable of identifying those patients who, at the time of diagnosis are at risk of developing unfavorably, is the ability to plan more aggressive treatment strategies. Currently, there are no curative treatments for ASD ( 32 ). Treatments that have exhibited greater efficacy in attenuating the most severe symptoms of the disorder have been intensive psycho-educational treatments.…”

The Role of Ion Channel-Related Genes in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Study Using Next-Generation Sequencing

“…Although the ion channel group was significantly associated with medication use in our study, the overall severity of ASD represented by CARS scores was more strongly associated with pharmacotherapy of ASD than the RRB score. This might be because RRBs are not the only reason for pharmacotherapy in ASD: emotional problems can also account for antipsychotic use ( Stepanova et al, 2017 ).…”