Research: Levetiracetam Versus Placebo in Childhood and Adolescent Autism: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study

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Authored by Wasserman, S., Iyengar R., Chaplin W. F., Watner D., Waldoks S. E., Anagnostou E., Soorya L., and Hollander E. in International Clinical Psychopharmacology, Volume 21, Issue 6, p. 363-367, (2006).

Article summary (posted Oct 24, 2006):

This study found that the anticonvulsant levetiracetam had no effect on the symptoms of autism.

Current thinking is that drugs known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help with repetitive behaviors, drugs known as atypical antipsychotics may help with aggressive behavioral problems, and anticonvulsants may help with autistic behaviors in general. Anticonvulsants are believed to be helpful in autism because of their anti-aggressive and anti-impulsive effect on the brain. This is the first randomized, controlled, double-blind study of the safety and efficacy of levetiracetam in children with autism. The study tested only 20 children, however. The results indicated that levetiracetam was not able to improve aggression and mood instability associated with autism.

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aggressive behavior, anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, atypical antipsychotic, autism, controlled study, double-blind, drug, placebo, serotonin
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