Oxcarbazepine in Youths with Autistic Disorder and Significant Disruptive Behaviors

Layperson Summary:

The drug oxcarbazepine may help with some of the problem behaviors that may come with autism.

Psychiatrists often see people with autism because of problem behaviors. This case report describes three patients (aged 4.5-19) with autism who received drug therapy (oxcarbazepine) to treat problem behaviors. The patients were also all receiving behavior therapy such as applied behavior analysis (ABA). The author suggests that oxcarbazepine may have fewer side effects than risperidone and haloperidol. Oxcarbazepine is also good because it comes in liquid form.

Scientific Abstract