HealthDayNews
The antipsychotic drug risperidone is a safe, effective treatment for children with autism characterised by tantrums, aggression and/or self-injury, concludes a multi-site study sponsored by the US National Institute of Mental Health.
The study of 101 children (82 boys, 19 girls), aged 5 to 17, found that treatment with risperidone resulted in decreased aggression, reduced repetitive behaviours and increased social interaction, with limited side effects. The study also found that discontinuation of risperidone after six months of treatment resulted in a rapid return of aggressive and disruptive behaviour in most cases.
The findings appear in the July issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Full article available at:
http://www.health24.com/news/Mind_Psychology/1-930,32407.asp
Related article:
Drug helps counter autism effects
The antipsychotic drug Risperdal decreased tantrums, aggression and self-injurious behavior among children with autism in a small study funded by the government.
This is the first time any drug from a relatively new class of medications called atypical antipsychotics has been systematically studied in autistic kids.
''The response to [Risperdal] ranks among the most positive ever observed in children with autism for a drug treatment,'' said study investigator James McCracken, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the
