Research: Atypical Antipsychotics in Children and Adolescents with Autistic and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders

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Authored by McDougle, CJ, Stigler KA, Erickson CA, and Posey DJ in J Clin Psychiatry, Volume 69, Issue Suppl 4, p. 15-20, (2008).

Article summary (posted Sep 3, 2008):

Drug therapy may help with problem behaviors that can be associated with autism.

This review article describes the use of a type of drug known as atypical antipsychotics as a treatment for children with autism, and reports on whether or not these drugs work. Atypical antipsychotics are often used as a first-line therapy to treat problem behaviors in children with autism. Problem behaviors such as aggression and self-injury and tantrums can often get in a way of a childâ??s schooling. Atypical antipsychotics include clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole. Risperidone is the only drug that is FDA-approved for use with autism.

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You can access the original abstract and the complete paper is sometimes available for free via Google Scholar (look for entries that say "PDF" or "HTML" on the right side of the page).
Abilify (aripiprazole), aggressive behavior, antipsychotic, atypical antipsychotic, autism, Clozaril - FazaClo (clozapine), drug, Geodon (ziprasidone), pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), Prozac - Sarafem (fluoxetine hydrochloride), Risperdal (risperidone), self injury, tantrum, therapy, treatment, Zyprexa (olanzapine)
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