Inpharma 1522 - 28 Jan 2006 Room for improvement in treating paediatric autism "While there is currently no cure for autism, psychotropic drugs, when used appropriately, can alleviate a number of behavioural symptoms in children", according to Dr Richard P Malone and colleagues from Drexel University College of Medicine, Pennsylvania, US. They provide an overview of current treatment options for children and adolescents with autism, and note the importance of these treatments in improving the quality of life of both the patients and their family. The most widely studied agents, haloperidol and risperidone, are both effective treatments for autism, but are associated with dyskinesias and weight gain, respectively, state Dr Malone and colleagues. Studies of SSRIs have provided mixed results and there is no indication that these agents are globally effective, and naltrexone only appears to be of minimal benefit, they say. Although stimulants such as methylphenidate improve focus and reduce hyperactivity, they may also be associated behavioural worsening. Dr Malone and colleagues acknowledge that some novel treatments, such as secretin, become widely used despite a lack of definitive evidence of their efficacy, and are often proven to be ineffective; as such, they suggest that promising new agents, such as oxytocin, should be studied definitively before they are recommended for use. Malone RP, et al. Advances in drug treatments for children and adolescents with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. CNS Drugs 19: 923-934, No. 11, 2005 801006088 1 Inpharma 28 Jan 2006 No. 1522 1173-8324/10/1522-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Room for improvement in treating paediatric autism

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Inpharma 1522 - 28 Jan 2006

Room for improvement in treatingpaediatric autism

"While there is currently no cure for autism,psychotropic drugs, when used appropriately, canalleviate a number of behavioural symptoms in children",according to Dr Richard P Malone and colleagues fromDrexel University College of Medicine, Pennsylvania,US.

They provide an overview of current treatmentoptions for children and adolescents with autism, andnote the importance of these treatments in improvingthe quality of life of both the patients and their family.The most widely studied agents, haloperidol andrisperidone, are both effective treatments for autism, butare associated with dyskinesias and weight gain,respectively, state Dr Malone and colleagues.

Studies of SSRIs have provided mixed results andthere is no indication that these agents are globallyeffective, and naltrexone only appears to be of minimalbenefit, they say. Although stimulants such asmethylphenidate improve focus and reducehyperactivity, they may also be associated behaviouralworsening.

Dr Malone and colleagues acknowledge that somenovel treatments, such as secretin, become widely useddespite a lack of definitive evidence of their efficacy, andare often proven to be ineffective; as such, they suggestthat promising new agents, such as oxytocin, should bestudied definitively before they are recommended foruse.Malone RP, et al. Advances in drug treatments for children and adolescents withautism and other pervasive developmental disorders. CNS Drugs 19: 923-934, No.11, 2005 801006088