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Michelini G, Carlisi CO, Eaton NR, Elison JT, Haltigan JD, Kotov R, Krueger RF, Latzman RD, Li JJ, Levin-Aspenson HF, Salum GA, South SC, Stanton K, Waldman ID, Wilson S. Where do neurodevelopmental conditions fit in transdiagnostic psychiatric frameworks? Incorporating a new neurodevelopmental spectrum. World Psychiatry 2024; 23:333-357. [PMID: 39279404 PMCID: PMC11403200 DOI: 10.1002/wps.21225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Features of autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders, intellectual disabilities, and communication and motor disorders usually emerge early in life and are associated with atypical neurodevelopment. These "neurodevelopmental conditions" are grouped together in the DSM-5 and ICD-11 to reflect their shared characteristics. Yet, reliance on categorical diagnoses poses significant challenges in both research and clinical settings (e.g., high co-occurrence, arbitrary diagnostic boundaries, high within-disorder heterogeneity). Taking a transdiagnostic dimensional approach provides a useful alternative for addressing these limitations, accounting for shared underpinnings across neurodevelopmental conditions, and characterizing their common co-occurrence and developmental continuity with other psychiatric conditions. Neurodevelopmental features have not been adequately considered in transdiagnostic psychiatric frameworks, although this would have fundamental implications for research and clinical practices. Growing evidence from studies on the structure of neurodevelopmental and other psychiatric conditions indicates that features of neurodevelopmental conditions cluster together, delineating a "neurodevelopmental spectrum" ranging from normative to impairing profiles. Studies on shared genetic underpinnings, overlapping cognitive and neural profiles, and similar developmental course and efficacy of support/treatment strategies indicate the validity of this neurodevelopmental spectrum. Further, characterizing this spectrum alongside other psychiatric dimensions has clinical utility, as it provides a fuller view of an individual's needs and strengths, and greater prognostic utility than diagnostic categories. Based on this compelling body of evidence, we argue that incorporating a new neurodevelopmental spectrum into transdiagnostic frameworks has considerable potential for transforming our understanding, classification, assessment, and clinical practices around neurodevelopmental and other psychiatric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Michelini
- Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christina O Carlisi
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas R Eaton
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Jed T Elison
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - John D Haltigan
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Youth Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Roman Kotov
- Department of Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Robert F Krueger
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - James J Li
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Giovanni A Salum
- Child Mind Institute, New York, NY, USA
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatria do Desenvolvimento para a Infância e Adolescência, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Susan C South
- Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Kasey Stanton
- Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Irwin D Waldman
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sylia Wilson
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Dingwall R, May C, Letschert J, Renoir T, Hannan AJ, Burrows EL. Attenuated responses to attention-modulating drugs in the neuroligin-3 R451C mouse model of autism. J Neurochem 2024; 168:2285-2302. [PMID: 39092656 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Attention deficits are frequently reported within the clinical autism population. Despite not being a core diagnostic feature, some aetiological theories place atypical attention at the centre of autism development. Drugs used to treat attention dysfunction are therefore increasingly prescribed to autistic patients, though currently off-label with uncertain efficacy. We utilised a rodent-translated touchscreen test of sustained attention in mice carrying an autism-associated R451C mutation in the neuroligin-3 gene (Nlgn3R451C). In doing so, we replicated their cautious but accurate response profile and probed it using two widely prescribed attention-modulating drugs: methylphenidate (MPH) and atomoxetine (ATO). In wild-type mice, acute administration of MPH (3 mg/kg) promoted impulsive responding at the expense of accuracy, while ATO (3 mg/kg) broadly reduced impulsive responding. These drug effects were absent in Nlgn3R451C mice, other than a small reduction in blank touches to the screen following ATO administration. The absence of drug effects in Nlgn3R451C mice likely arises from their altered behavioural baseline and underlying neurobiology, highlighting caveats to the use of classic attention-modulating drugs across disorders and autism subsets. It further suggests that altered dopaminergic and/or norepinephrinergic systems may drive behavioural differences in the Nlgn3R451C mouse model of autism, supporting further targeted investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Dingwall
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - C May
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - J Letschert
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - T Renoir
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - A J Hannan
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - E L Burrows
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Bulonza R, Watkins K, Parsons R, Sunderland B, Whitehouse A, Caccetta R. The use of psychotropic medications in autistic individuals (21 years and younger) in Western Australia: A preliminary investigation. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2024; 28:2002-2013. [PMID: 38385262 PMCID: PMC11301957 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231226099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Prescriptions and use of medications to treat mental health conditions in young autistic populations are inconsistent worldwide. This makes it hard to compare findings from international studies to the Australian autistic population, where there are limited relevant studies. Apart from risperidone, there are no other medications specified for direct use in autistic persons. This study aims to gain initial broad understanding of the use of medications, commonly prescribed for mental health conditions, specifically by autistics under the age of 21 years. We analysed data that were previously collected as part of the Western Australian Autism Biological Registry between 2011 and 2015 which amounted to 239 surveys completed on young persons with diagnosed autism. The questionnaires included information on co-occurring conditions, current or previous use of medications and reasons for use of the medications. Only one-quarter of the participants in this study reported using at least one mental health-related medication in their lifetime. The most reported medications were stimulants, antidepressants and antiepileptics. The reasons for using medication included managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, challenging behaviours, seizures, sleep difficulties and symptoms of anxiety and depression. The number of individuals reporting medication use in this study was lower compared to other developed countries. Nevertheless, these medications should be monitored due to limited understanding of their use to manage co-occurring symptoms in young autistic persons. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing research to better understand mental health-related medications and inform best practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Andrew Whitehouse
- Perth Children’s Hospital, Australia
- The University of Western Australia, Australia
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Johnson M, Johnels JÅ, Östlund S, Jakobsson K, Högstedt J, Larsson PJ, Gillberg C, Billstedt E. Long-term medication for ADHD (LMA) trial: 2-year prospective observational study in children and adolescents. Core symptoms, daily functioning, and comorbidity outcomes. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 274:879-890. [PMID: 38280948 PMCID: PMC11127865 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01744-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
More knowledge is needed about long-term ADHD medication and symptom, daily functioning, comorbidity, and tolerability outcomes. This "Long-term Medication for ADHD (LMA) trial" was a prospective observational 2-year trial in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years (extension of 1-year trial). Participants met criteria for DSM-5 ADHD (inattentive or combined), with complex comorbidities; autism spectrum disorder (31%), autistic traits (24%), oppositional symptoms (59%), anxiety (32%), dyslexia/language disorder (16%), borderline intellectual functioning (17%). Medication was individually tailored and followed-up at clinical visits (1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 months). Primary outcome: Clinical Global Impression-Severity and Improvement scales (CGI-S, CGI-I). Secondary outcomes: Investigator-rated ADHD-Rating Scale, Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Parent report (WFIRS-P; Family, School Learning and Behavior, Life Skills, Self-Concept, Social Activities, and Risky Activities domains), comorbidity symptoms and adverse events (AEs). One hundred twenty-eight participants were enrolled (1-year trial only n = 27, LMA trial n = 101). Of these 29 (23%) discontinued, mainly due to AEs (n = 7), moving (n = 7), or no longer needing medication (n = 6). Main AEs were poor appetite, low mood, anxiety, irritability, fatigue. Improvements from baseline to 2 years were large in CGI-S (effect size (ES) 2.28), ADHD-RS (ES 2.06), and moderate to large in WFIRS-P (ES total 0.73, learning 0.4, family 0.67). Overall, the trial showed robust and sustained improvements in ADHD symptom severity and daily functioning over a period of 2 years of ADHD medication in children and adolescents with ADHD and complex comorbidities. Most AEs were mild. Comorbidity symptoms were improved after 1 year, particularly oppositional symptoms, depression, and anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Johnson
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - J Åsberg Johnels
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - S Östlund
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - K Jakobsson
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - J Högstedt
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - P Javid Larsson
- Habilitation and Health, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - C Gillberg
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - E Billstedt
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Stutzman DL, Dopheide JA. Practice Pearls for Stimulant Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Youth. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2024; 29:215-231. [PMID: 38863854 PMCID: PMC11163912 DOI: 10.5863/1551-6776-29.3.215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Over half of youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have co-occurring psychiatric or medical conditions that present treatment challenges. Stimulants are the most effective pharmacologic treatment of ADHD for preschoolers to adults but questions about safety with co-occurring conditions frequently arise. In addition, stigma surrounding diagnosis and treatment can negatively impact care. This manuscript presents evidence-based practice pearls to guide treatment decisions for youth with ADHD and common coexisting psychiatric and medical conditions. Recommendations address specific stimulant adverse effects (i.e., anxiety, cardiac, growth, mania, psychosis) along with management strategies. Pearls were developed for the most common clinical questions, controversial topics, or therapeutic issues that may not be widely known. The goals of this manuscript are to: 1) provide a detailed resource for interprofessional teams regarding stimulant use in youth with ADHD, 2) improve therapeutic outcomes for youth with ADHD and co-occurring psychiatric and/or medical conditions through evidence-based recommendations, and 3) decrease stigma associated with stimulant use through education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L. Stutzman
- Pediatric Mental Health Institute (DLS), Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy (DLS), University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aurora, CO
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (DLS), University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
| | - Julie A. Dopheide
- University of Southern California Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Keck School of Medicine (JAD), LAC+USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
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Chau T, Tiego J, Brown LE, Mellahn OJ, Johnson BP, Arnatkeviciute A, Fulcher BD, Matthews N, Bellgrove MA. The distribution of parent-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and subclinical autistic traits in children with and without an ADHD diagnosis. JCPP ADVANCES 2024; 4:e12223. [PMID: 38827983 PMCID: PMC11143953 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Autistic traits are often reported to be elevated in children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the distribution of subclinical autistic traits in children with ADHD has not yet been established; knowing this may have important implications for diagnostic and intervention processes. The present study proposes a preliminary model of the distribution of parent-reported ADHD and subclinical autistic traits in two independent samples of Australian children with and without an ADHD diagnosis. Methods Factor mixture modelling was applied to Autism Quotient and Conners' Parent Rating Scale - Revised responses from parents of Australian children aged 6-15 years who participated in one of two independent studies. Results A 2-factor, 2-class factor mixture model with class varying factor variances and intercepts demonstrated the best fit to the data in both discovery and replication samples. The factors corresponded to the latent constructs of 'autism' and 'ADHD', respectively. Class 1 was characterised by low levels of both ADHD and autistic traits. Class 2 was characterised by high levels of ADHD traits and low-to-moderate levels of autistic traits. The classes were largely separated along diagnostic boundaries. The largest effect size for differences between classes on the Autism Quotient was on the Social Communication subscale. Conclusions Our findings support the conceptualisation of ADHD as a continuum, whilst confirming the utility of current categorical diagnostic criteria. Results suggest that subclinical autistic traits, particularly in the social communication domain, are unevenly distributed across children with clinically significant levels of ADHD traits. These traits might be profitably screened for in assessments of children with high ADHD symptoms and may also represent useful targets for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Chau
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthSchool of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Jeggan Tiego
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthSchool of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Louise E. Brown
- School of Nursing, Midwifery & ParamedicineCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Olivia J. Mellahn
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthSchool of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Beth P. Johnson
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthSchool of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Aurina Arnatkeviciute
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthSchool of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ben D. Fulcher
- School of PhysicsThe University of SydneyCamperdownWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Natasha Matthews
- School of PsychologyThe University of QueenslandSaint LuciaQueenslandAustralia
| | - Mark A. Bellgrove
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthSchool of Psychological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
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Wong CM, Aljunied M, Chan DKL, Cheong JMY, Chew B, Chin CH, Choo SHT, Chua AHL, Foo MTS, Goh TJ, Khader M, Khoo SKM, Koh HC, Lian WB, Lim HH, Poon KKL, Sim ZL, Sung M, Tan PC, Yong S, Zhang G, Aishworiya R. 2023 clinical practice guidelines on autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents in Singapore. ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2024; 53:541-552. [PMID: 38920181 DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2023307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is increasing in prevalence worldwide. There has been an exponential increase in autism-related research since 2010, when the first Singapore Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) on autism was published. Understanding of autism has since evolved to adopt a lifespan approach beyond that of a childhood condition. The aim of this CPG was to provide an updated set of recommendations for children and adolescents to aid clinical practice for professionals. Method A multidisciplinary workgroup that comprised representatives from various sectors worked on this CPG. Clinical questions were organised into 10 different sections, each with its own subgroup of members. Seventeen existing international guidelines were evaluated using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation II (AGREE-II) framework, of which 4 met criteria to act as references. Literature review across multiple databases was conducted between January 2011 to 2023; Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE-like) methodology was used to synthesise evidence. Recommendation statements were derived, following Delphi-style consensus surveys among the workgroup. The draft guidelines underwent external review and public consultation before being formalised. Results Recommendation and good practice statements pertaining to care of children and adolescents on the autism spectrum across 10 different sections were developed. Evidence matrices complement these recommendations and detail relevant evidence behind each recommendation statement. Conclusion It is intended for these guidelines to promote effective management and healthcare services for children and adolescents on the autism spectrum, by reinforcing good and evidence-based clinical practice within our national context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chui Mae Wong
- Department of Child Development, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore
| | - Mariam Aljunied
- Special Educational Needs Division, Ministry of Education, Singapore
| | - Daisy Kwai Lin Chan
- Department of Child Development, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore
- Department of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Singapore General Hospital
| | - Janice Mun Yi Cheong
- Department of Psychological Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Chee Hon Chin
- Department of Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | - Sylvia Henn Tean Choo
- Department of Child Development, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore
| | | | | | - Tze Jui Goh
- Department of Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | | | | | - Hwan Cui Koh
- Department of Child Development, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | - Wee Bin Lian
- SpecialKids Child Health & Development Clinic, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Min Sung
- Department of Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | - Peng Chian Tan
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Sarah Yong
- Specialised Assistive Technology Centre, SPD, Singapore
| | - Guiyue Zhang
- Child Development Unit, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - Ramkumar Aishworiya
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Child Development Unit, Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore
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Aishworiya R, Valica T, Hagerman R, Restrepo B. An Update on Psychopharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2024; 22:198-211. [PMID: 38680976 PMCID: PMC11046717 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.24022006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
While behavioral interventions remain the mainstay of treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), several potential targeted treatments addressing the underlying neurophysiology of ASD have emerged in the last few years. These are promising for the potential to, in future, become part of the mainstay treatment in addressing the core symptoms of ASD. Although it is likely that the development of future targeted treatments will be influenced by the underlying heterogeneity in etiology, associated genetic mechanisms influencing ASD are likely to be the first targets of treatments and even gene therapy in the future for ASD. In this article, we provide a review of current psychopharmacological treatment in ASD including those used to address common comorbidities of the condition and upcoming new targeted approaches in autism management. Medications including metformin, arbaclofen, cannabidiol, oxytocin, bumetanide, lovastatin, trofinetide, and dietary supplements including sulforophane and N-acetylcysteine are discussed. Commonly used medications to address the comorbidities associated with ASD including atypical antipsychotics, serotoninergic agents, alpha-2 agonists, and stimulant medications are also reviewed. Targeted treatments in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic disorder leading to ASD, provide a model for new treatments that may be helpful for other forms of ASD. Appeared originally in Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:248-262.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramkumar Aishworiya
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA (Aishworiya, Valica, Hagerman, Restrepo); Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore (Aishworiya); Association for Children With Autism, Chisinau, Moldova (Valica); Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA (Hagerman, Restrepo)
| | - Tatiana Valica
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA (Aishworiya, Valica, Hagerman, Restrepo); Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore (Aishworiya); Association for Children With Autism, Chisinau, Moldova (Valica); Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA (Hagerman, Restrepo)
| | - Randi Hagerman
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA (Aishworiya, Valica, Hagerman, Restrepo); Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore (Aishworiya); Association for Children With Autism, Chisinau, Moldova (Valica); Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA (Hagerman, Restrepo)
| | - Bibiana Restrepo
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA (Aishworiya, Valica, Hagerman, Restrepo); Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore (Aishworiya); Association for Children With Autism, Chisinau, Moldova (Valica); Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA (Hagerman, Restrepo)
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9
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Chung US, Kim JH. Common Comorbid Condition of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pharmacotherapy for Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2024; 35:39-43. [PMID: 38204750 PMCID: PMC10774559 DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.230006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This article describes common comorbid condtion of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and recommends treatment guidelines of pharmacotherapy for patients with ASD. More than 95% of people with ASD have at least one additional disorder and guidelines how to evaluate and treat comorbid conditions in patients with ASD and 7 recommendations for treatment with medication for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Un Sun Chung
- Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ji-Hoon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Pusan National University, School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea
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10
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Lee M, Lee S, Sohn JW, Kim KW, Choi HJ. Assessment Methods for Problematic Eating Behaviors in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2024; 35:57-65. [PMID: 38204745 PMCID: PMC10774564 DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.230065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be associated with eating problems. However, currently, there is a lack of established guidelines for assessing and addressing eating behaviors in individuals with ASD. This gap in research exists due to the challenges associated with using traditional assessment methods, which may lead to discrepancies in responses and unintentional potential biases from caregivers. In this review, we provided a comprehensive overview of various eating behaviors commonly observed in individuals with ASD. These behaviors include 1) food neophobia, 2) selective eating, 3) binge eating, 4) food avoidance, 5) chewing and swallowing problems, 6) pica, 7) rumination, 8) rituals, and 9) problematic behaviors. Furthermore, we provide a perspective of utilizing digital tools: 1) augmentative and alternative communication; 2) ecological momentary assessment; and 3) video analysis, behavioral analysis, and facial expression analysis. This review explores existing assessment methods and suggests novel assessment aiding together.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miji Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seolha Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong-Woo Sohn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ki Woo Kim
- Division of Physiology, Departments of Oral Biology and Applied Life Science, BK21 Four, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyung Jin Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Wide River Institute of Immunology, Seoul National University, Hongcheon, Korea
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Iffland M, Livingstone N, Jorgensen M, Hazell P, Gillies D. Pharmacological intervention for irritability, aggression, and self-injury in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 10:CD011769. [PMID: 37811711 PMCID: PMC10561353 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011769.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacological interventions are frequently used for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to manage behaviours of concern, including irritability, aggression, and self-injury. Some pharmacological interventions might help treat some behaviours of concern, but can also have adverse effects (AEs). OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and AEs of pharmacological interventions for managing the behaviours of irritability, aggression, and self-injury in ASD. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, 11 other databases and two trials registers up to June 2022. We also searched reference lists of relevant studies, and contacted study authors, experts and pharmaceutical companies. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials of participants of any age with a clinical diagnosis of ASD, that compared any pharmacological intervention to an alternative drug, standard care, placebo, or wait-list control. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard Cochrane methods. Primary outcomes were behaviours of concern in ASD, (irritability, aggression and self-injury); and AEs. Secondary outcomes were quality of life, and tolerability and acceptability. Two review authors independently assessed each study for risk of bias, and used GRADE to judge the certainty of the evidence for each outcome. MAIN RESULTS We included 131 studies involving 7014 participants in this review. We identified 26 studies as awaiting classification and 25 as ongoing. Most studies involved children (53 studies involved only children under 13 years), children and adolescents (37 studies), adolescents only (2 studies) children and adults (16 studies), or adults only (23 studies). All included studies compared a pharmacological intervention to a placebo or to another pharmacological intervention. Atypical antipsychotics versus placebo At short-term follow-up (up to 6 months), atypical antipsychotics probably reduce irritability compared to placebo (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.25 to -0.55, 12 studies, 973 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), which may indicate a large effect. However, there was no clear evidence of a difference in aggression between groups (SMD -0.44, 95% CI -0.89 to 0.01; 1 study, 77 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Atypical antipsychotics may also reduce self-injury (SMD -1.43, 95% CI -2.24 to -0.61; 1 study, 30 participants; low-certainty evidence), possibly indicating a large effect. There may be higher rates of neurological AEs (dizziness, fatigue, sedation, somnolence, and tremor) in the intervention group (low-certainty evidence), but there was no clear evidence of an effect on other neurological AEs. Increased appetite may be higher in the intervention group (low-certainty evidence), but we found no clear evidence of an effect on other metabolic AEs. There was no clear evidence of differences between groups in musculoskeletal or psychological AEs. Neurohormones versus placebo At short-term follow-up, neurohormones may have minimal to no clear effect on irritability when compared to placebo (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.37 to -0.00; 8 studies; 466 participants; very low-certainty evidence), although the evidence is very uncertain. No data were reported for aggression or self -injury. Neurohormones may reduce the risk of headaches slightly in the intervention group, although the evidence is very uncertain. There was no clear evidence of an effect of neurohormones on any other neurological AEs, nor on any psychological, metabolic, or musculoskeletal AEs (low- and very low-certainty evidence). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related medications versus placebo At short-term follow-up, ADHD-related medications may reduce irritability slightly (SMD -0.20, 95% CI -0.40 to -0.01; 10 studies, 400 participants; low-certainty evidence), which may indicate a small effect. However, there was no clear evidence that ADHD-related medications have an effect on self-injury (SMD -0.62, 95% CI -1.63 to 0.39; 1 study, 16 participants; very low-certainty evidence). No data were reported for aggression. Rates of neurological AEs (drowsiness, emotional AEs, fatigue, headache, insomnia, and irritability), metabolic AEs (decreased appetite) and psychological AEs (depression) may be higher in the intervention group, although the evidence is very uncertain (very low-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of a difference between groups for any other metabolic, neurological, or psychological AEs (very low-certainty evidence). No data were reported for musculoskeletal AEs. Antidepressants versus placebo At short-term follow-up, there was no clear evidence that antidepressants have an effect on irritability (SMD -0.06, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.18; 3 studies, 267 participants; low-certainty evidence). No data for aggression or self-injury were reported or could be included in the analysis. Rates of metabolic AEs (decreased energy) may be higher in participants receiving antidepressants (very low-certainty evidence), although no other metabolic AEs showed clear evidence of a difference. Rates of neurological AEs (decreased attention) and psychological AEs (impulsive behaviour and stereotypy) may also be higher in the intervention group (very low-certainty evidence) although the evidence is very uncertain. There was no clear evidence of any difference in the other metabolic, neurological, or psychological AEs (very low-certainty evidence), nor between groups in musculoskeletal AEs (very low-certainty evidence). Risk of bias We rated most of the studies across the four comparisons at unclear overall risk of bias due to having multiple domains rated as unclear, very few rated as low across all domains, and most having at least one domain rated as high risk of bias. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Evidence suggests that atypical antipsychotics probably reduce irritability, ADHD-related medications may reduce irritability slightly, and neurohormones may have little to no effect on irritability in the short term in people with ASD. There was some evidence that atypical antipsychotics may reduce self-injury in the short term, although the evidence is uncertain. There was no clear evidence that antidepressants had an effect on irritability. There was also little to no difference in aggression between atypical antipsychotics and placebo, or self-injury between ADHD-related medications and placebo. However, there was some evidence that atypical antipsychotics may result in a large reduction in self-injury, although the evidence is uncertain. No data were reported (or could be used) for self-injury or aggression for neurohormones versus placebo. Studies reported a wide range of potential AEs. Atypical antipsychotics and ADHD-related medications in particular were associated with an increased risk of metabolic and neurological AEs, although the evidence is uncertain for atypical antipsychotics and very uncertain for ADHD-related medications. The other drug classes had minimal or no associated AEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Iffland
- Senior Practitioner Branch, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Penrith, Australia
| | - Nuala Livingstone
- Cochrane Evidence Production and Methods Directorate , Cochrane, London, UK
| | - Mikaela Jorgensen
- Senior Practitioner Branch, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Penrith, Australia
| | - Philip Hazell
- Speciality of Psychiatry, University of Sydney School of Medicine, Sydney, Australia
| | - Donna Gillies
- Senior Practitioner Branch, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Penrith, Australia
- Sydney, Australia
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12
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Hellings J. Pharmacotherapy in autism spectrum disorders, including promising older drugs warranting trials. World J Psychiatry 2023; 13:262-277. [PMID: 37383284 PMCID: PMC10294139 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v13.i6.262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Available pharmacotherapies for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are reviewed based on clinical and research experience, highlighting some older drugs with emerging evidence. Several medications show efficacy in ASD, though controlled studies in ASD are largely lacking. Only risperidone and aripiprazole have Federal Drug Administration approval in the United States. Methylphenidate (MPH) studies showed lower efficacy and tolerability for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than in the typically developing (TD) population; atomoxetine demonstrated lower efficacy but comparable tolerability to TD outcomes. Guanfacine improved hyperactivity in ASD comparably to TD. Dex-troamphetamine promises greater efficacy than MPH in ASD. ADHD medications reduce impulsive aggression in youth, and may also be key for this in adults. Controlled trials of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors citalopram and fluoxetine demonstrated poor tolerability and lack of efficacy for repetitive behaviors. Trials of antiseizure medications in ASD remain inconclusive, however clinical trials may be warranted in severely disabled individuals showing bizarre behaviors. No identified drugs treat ASD core symptoms; oxytocin lacked efficacy. Amitriptyline and loxapine however, show promise. Loxapine at 5-10 mg daily resembled an atypical antipsychotic in positron emission tomography studies, but may be weight-sparing. Amitriptyline at approximately 1 mg/ kg/day used cautiously, shows efficacy for sleep, anxiety, impulsivity and ADHD, repetitive behaviors, and enuresis. Both drugs have promising neurotrophic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Hellings
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Lee's Summit, MO 64063, United States
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Staben J, Koch M, Reid K, Muckerheide J, Gilman L, McGuinness F, Kiesser S, Oswald IWH, Koby KA, Martin TJ, Kaplan JS. Cannabidiol and cannabis-inspired terpene blends have acute prosocial effects in the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1185737. [PMID: 37397463 PMCID: PMC10311644 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1185737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid with increasing popularity due to its purported therapeutic efficacy for numerous off-label conditions including anxiety and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Those with ASD are commonly deficient in endogenous cannabinoid signaling and GABAergic tone. CBD has a complex pharmacodynamic profile that includes enhancing GABA and endocannabinoid signaling. Thus, there is mechanistic justification for investigating CBD's potential to improve social interaction and related symptoms in ASD. Recent clinical trials in children with ASD support CBD's beneficial effects in numerous comorbid symptoms, but its impact on social behavior is understudied. Methods Here, we tested the prosocial and general anxiolytic efficacy of a commercially available CBD-rich broad spectrum hemp oil delivered by repeated puff vaporization and consumed via passive inhalation in the female cohort of the BTBR strain, a common inbred mouse line for preclinical assessment of ASD-like behaviors. Results We observed that CBD enhanced prosocial behaviors using the 3-Chamber Test with a different vapor dose-response relationship between prosocial behavior and anxiety-related behavior on the elevated plus maze. We also identified that inhalation of a vaporized terpene blend from the popular OG Kush cannabis strain increased prosocial behavior independently of CBD and acted together with CBD to promote a robust prosocial effect. We observed similar prosocial effects with two additional cannabis terpene blends from the Do-Si-Dos and Blue Dream strains, and further reveal that these prosocial benefits rely on the combination of multiple terpenes that comprise the blends. Discussion Our results illustrate the added benefit of cannabis terpene blends for CBD-based treatment of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenika Staben
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Megan Koch
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Keelee Reid
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Jessica Muckerheide
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Lauren Gilman
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Finn McGuinness
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Sarina Kiesser
- Scientific Technical Services, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | - Iain W. H. Oswald
- Department of Research and Development, Abstrax Tech, Inc., Tustin, CA, United States
| | - Kevin A. Koby
- Department of Research and Development, Abstrax Tech, Inc., Tustin, CA, United States
| | - Thomas J. Martin
- Department of Research and Development, Abstrax Tech, Inc., Tustin, CA, United States
| | - Joshua S. Kaplan
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
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Ure A, Cox GR, Haslam R, Williams K. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for autistic spectrum disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 6:CD013851. [PMID: 37267443 PMCID: PMC10233795 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013851.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (autism) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by impairments in social communication and interaction, plus restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour and interests. Whilst some people embrace autism as part of their identity, others struggle with their difficulties, and some seek treatment. There are no current interventions that result in complete reduction of autism features. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter for the cholinergic system and has a role in attention, novelty seeking, and memory. Low levels of acetylcholine have been investigated as a potential contributor to autism symptomatology. Donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine (commonly referred to as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors) all inhibit acetylcholinesterase, and have slightly different modes of action and biological availability, so their effectiveness and side-effect profiles may vary. The effect of various acetylcholinesterase inhibitor on core autism features across the lifespan, and possible adverse effects, have not been thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and harms of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for people with the core features (social interaction, communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviours) of autism. To assess the effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors on non-core features of autism. SEARCH METHODS In November 2022, we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, eight other databases, and two trials registers. We also searched the reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews, and contacted authors of relevant studies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), comparing acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (e.g. galantamine, donepezil, or rivastigmine) of varying doses, delivered orally or via transdermal patch, either as monotherapy or adjunct therapy, with placebo. People of any age, with a clinical diagnosis of autism were eligible for inclusion. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Our primary outcomes were core features of autism and adverse effects. Secondary outcomes were language, irritability, hyperactivity, and general health and function. We used GRADE to assess certainty of evidence. MAIN RESULTS We included two RCTs (74 participants). One study was conducted in Iran, the second in the USA, although exact location in the USA is unclear. Galantamine plus risperidone versus placebo plus risperidone One study compared the effects of galantamine plus risperidone to placebo plus risperidone (40 participants, aged 4 years to 12 years). Primary and secondary outcomes of interest were measured postintervention, using subscales of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (score 0 to 3; higher scores = greater impairment). Very low-certainty evidence showed there was little to no difference between the two groups postintervention for social communication (mean difference (MD) -2.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.88 to 0.38), and restricted and repetitive behaviour (MD -0.55, 95% CI -3.47 to 2.37). Overall autism features were not assessed. Adverse events may be higher in the galantamine plus risperidone group (75%) compared with the placebo plus risperidone group (35%): odds ratio 5.57, 95% CI 1.42 to 21.86, low-certainty evidence. No serious adverse events were reported. Low-certainty evidence showed a small difference in irritability (MD -3.50, 95% CI -6.39 to -0.61), with the galantamine plus risperidone group showing a greater decline on the irritability subscale than the placebo group postintervention. There was no evidence of a difference between the groups in hyperactivity postintervention (MD -5.20, 95% CI -10.51 to 0.11). General health and function were not assessed. Donepezil versus placebo One study compared donepezil to placebo (34 participants aged 8 years to 17 years). Primary outcomes of interest were measured postintervention, using subscales of the Modified Version of The Real Life Rating Scale (scored 0 to 3; higher scores = greater impairment). Very low-certainty evidence showed no evidence of group differences immediately postintervention in overall autism features (MD 0.07, 95% CI -0.19 to 0.33), or in the autism symptom domains of social communication (MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.30), and restricted and repetitive behaviours (MD 0.04, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.35). Significant adverse events leading to study withdrawal in at least one participant was implied in the data analysis section, but not explicitly reported. The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of donepezil, compared to placebo, on the secondary outcomes of interest, including irritability (MD 1.08, 95% CI -0.41 to 2.57), hyperactivity (MD 2.60, 95% CI 0.50 to 4.70), and general health and function (MD 0.03, 95% CI -0.48 to 0.54) postintervention. Across all analyses within this comparison, we judged the evidence to be very low-certainty due to high risk of bias, and very serious imprecision (results based on one small study with wide confidence intervals). The study narratively reported adverse events for the study as a whole, rather than by treatment group. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Evidence about the effectiveness of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors as a medication to improve outcomes for autistic adults is lacking, and for autistic children is very uncertain. There is a need for more evidence of improvement in outcomes of relevance to clinical care, autistic people, and their families. There are a number of ongoing studies involving acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and future updates of this review may add to the current evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Ure
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Developmental Paediatrics, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Georgina R Cox
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Neurodevelopment and Disability, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Richard Haslam
- Mental Health Department, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Katrina Williams
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Developmental Paediatrics, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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15
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Maniram J, Oosthuizen F, Karrim SBS. An Overview of Pharmacotherapy in the Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder at a Public Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023:10.1007/s10578-023-01514-z. [PMID: 36944778 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01514-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
This study presents an overview of prescribing patterns and provides insight into the current management practice for the core symptoms and comorbidities of ASD in children. A quantitative retrospective study was conducted at a public hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa by reviewing patient files of children diagnosed with ASD and meeting the inclusion criteria for the study. A descriptive analysis of data was done to identify treatment trends and patient therapeutic outcomes. A total of 181 children met the inclusion criteria of the study. Risperidone was the most frequently prescribed drug (88%) for the management of comorbidities and/or core symptoms of ASD. Drugs prescribed to manage ASD comorbidities included methylphenidate, melatonin, sodium valproate, risperidone, oxybutynin, carbamazepine, and others. Except for risperidone, there were no additional drugs that targeted the core symptoms of ASD. Non-pharmacological therapies were often used collaboratively with medication to manage ASD symptoms. In 41% of patients, there were improvements in their symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennal Maniram
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Frasia Oosthuizen
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Saira B S Karrim
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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16
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Lee RR, Ward AR, Lane DM, Aman MG, Loveland KA, Mansour R, Pearson DA. Executive Function in Autism: Association with ADHD and ASD Symptoms. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:688-700. [PMID: 33515417 PMCID: PMC8322145 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04852-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
There is substantial comorbidity between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and there are well-documented executive functioning (EF) deficits in both populations. An important question concerns whether EF deficits in children with ASD are related to severity of ASD, ADHD, or both. We examined ADHD and ASD symptoms in relation to ratings of EF in the home and classroom. The sample comprised 64 children (55 males) diagnosed with ASD (mean age = 9.26 years; mean FSIQ = 92). Analyses indicated that parent and teacher ratings of EF (except Shift and Emotional Control) were consistently related to ADHD symptom severity, but not to ASD severity. Thus, functioning in the domains of Shift and Emotional control appear relatively spared, whereas performance in all other EF was impaired in relation to ADHD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel R Lee
- McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony R Ward
- McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Katherine A Loveland
- McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rosleen Mansour
- McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deborah A Pearson
- McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
- Louis A. Faillace M.D. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1941 East Road, Room 3.126 BBSB, Houston, TX, 77054, USA.
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17
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Hatch B, Kadlaskar G, Miller M. Diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with autism and ADHD. PSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS 2023; 60:295-311. [PMID: 37065905 PMCID: PMC10092654 DOI: 10.1002/pits.22808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism are neurodevelopmental disorders that emerge in childhood. There is increasing recognition that ADHD and autism frequently co-occur. Yet, questions remain among clinicians regarding the best ways to evaluate and treat co-occurring autism and ADHD. This review outlines issues relevant to providing evidence-based practice to individuals and families who may be experiencing difficulties associated with co-occurring autism and ADHD. After describing the complexities of the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD, we present practical considerations for best practice assessment and treatment of co-occurring autism and ADHD. Regarding assessment, this includes considerations for interviewing parents/caregivers and youth, using validated parent and teacher rating scales, conducting cognitive assessments, and conducting behavior observations. Regarding treatment, consideration is given to behavioral management, school-based interventions, social skills development, and the use of medications. Throughout, we note the quality of evidence that supports a particular component of assessment or treatment, highlighting when evidence is most relevant to those with co-occurring autism and ADHD across stages of development. In light of the current evidence for assessment and treatment of co-occurring autism and ADHD, we conclude by outlining practical implications for clinical and educational practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burt Hatch
- School of PsychologyVictoria University of WellingtonWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Girija Kadlaskar
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and MIND InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Meghan Miller
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and MIND InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCaliforniaUSA
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18
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Koevoet D, Deschamps PKH, Kenemans JL. Catecholaminergic and cholinergic neuromodulation in autism spectrum disorder: A comparison to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1078586. [PMID: 36685234 PMCID: PMC9853424 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1078586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairments and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Treatment of ASD is notoriously difficult and might benefit from identification of underlying mechanisms that overlap with those disturbed in other developmental disorders, for which treatment options are more obvious. One example of the latter is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), given the efficacy of especially stimulants in treatment of ADHD. Deficiencies in catecholaminergic systems [dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE)] in ADHD are obvious targets for stimulant treatment. Recent findings suggest that dysfunction in catecholaminergic systems may also be a factor in at least a subgroup of ASD. In this review we scrutinize the evidence for catecholaminergic mechanisms underlying ASD symptoms, and also include in this analysis a third classic ascending arousing system, the acetylcholinergic (ACh) network. We complement this with a comprehensive review of DA-, NE-, and ACh-targeted interventions in ASD, and an exploratory search for potential treatment-response predictors (biomarkers) in ASD, genetically or otherwise. Based on this review and analysis we propose that (1) stimulant treatment may be a viable option for an ASD subcategory, possibly defined by genetic subtyping; (2) cerebellar dysfunction is pronounced for a relatively small ADHD subgroup but much more common in ASD and in both cases may point toward NE- or ACh-directed intervention; (3) deficiency of the cortical salience network is sizable in subgroups of both disorders, and biomarkers such as eye blink rate and pupillometric data may predict the efficacy of targeting this underlying deficiency via DA, NE, or ACh in both ASD and ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian Koevoet
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Damian Koevoet,
| | - P. K. H. Deschamps
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - J. L. Kenemans
- Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Hernandez MH, Bote V, Serra-LLovich A, Cendros M, Salazar J, Mestres C, Guijarro S, Alvarez A, Lamborena C, Mendez I, Sanchez B, Hervas A, Arranz MJ. CES1 and SLC6A2 Genetic Variants As Predictors of Response To Methylphenidate in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Pharmgenomics Pers Med 2022; 15:951-957. [DOI: 10.2147/pgpm.s377210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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20
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BDNF, proBDNF and IGF-1 serum levels in naïve and medicated subjects with autism. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13768. [PMID: 35962006 PMCID: PMC9374711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17503-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) promote the development and maintenance of neural circuits. Alterations in these factors might contribute to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We asked whether serum BDNF, proBDNF, and IGF-1 levels are altered in an ASD population compared to controls. We measured serum BDNF, proBDNF, and IGF-1 immunoreactive protein in boys and girls aged 5–15 years old with mild to moderate ASD and non-autistic controls by ELISA. IGF-1 was increased in ASD serum compared to controls and was correlated with age and with CARS scores. Serum BDNF levels did not differ between groups, however, proBDNF serum levels were decreased in subjects with ASD compared to non-autistic controls. Medicated, but not unmedicated, ASD subjects exhibited lower serum proBDNF levels compared to controls, while neither IGF-1 nor BDNF levels differed between treatment groups. These data support the involvement of proBDNF and IGF-1 in the pathogenesis and treatment of autism.
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Neuroinflammation in autism spectrum disorders: potential target for mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s41983-022-00525-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) include a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterised by repetitive behaviours and impairments in communication, emotional and social skills. This review gives an overview of ASD, focusing on the aetiological and clinical aspects. It also discusses the role of neuroinflammation in ASD, critically examines the current evidence on the therapeutic effects of MSCs in ASD and consolidates key findings in this area of research.
Results
Many environmental and genetic factors have been linked to the aetiology of ASD. It has become increasingly evident that neuroinflammation plays a role in ASD. Conventional treatment of ASD revolves around psychosocial approaches whereas recent studies have turned to alternative approaches such as mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy, owing to the well-recognised immunomodulatory characteristics of MSCs. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that MSCs were able to exert anti-inflammatory effects and alleviate ASD symptoms.
Conclusions
There are many preclinical studies that support the use of MSCs in ASD. However, there are relatively fewer clinical studies concerning the safety and efficacy of MSCs in ASD, which warrants more large-scale clinical studies for future research.
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Methylphenidate Use for Emotional Dysregulation in Children and Adolescents with ADHD and ADHD and ASD: A Naturalistic Study. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11102922. [PMID: 35629047 PMCID: PMC9142913 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11102922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotional dysregulation (ED) is common in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nonetheless, research on ADHD in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD is still ongoing. Several studies suggest that methylphenidate (MPH) may be effective for ED in ADHD, while there is not enough evidence about its use in ASD with comorbid ADHD. This naturalistic study aims to investigate the effectiveness of immediate- and extended-release MPH in the treatment of ED in 70 children and adolescents (6–18 years), with a diagnosis of ADHD (n = 41) and of ASD with comorbid ADHD (n = 29), using the Child Behavior Checklist—Attention/Aggressive/Anxious (CBCL-AAA). Their parents completed the CBCL twice—first during the summer medication-free period, that is, at least one month after drug interruption; and again after three months of treatment restart. Results demonstrate that MPH is associated with a statistically significant reduction in ED in ADHD and ASD, without substantial adverse events, supporting the use of psychostimulants for the treatment of ED in these neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Core Signs and Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Improved after Starting Risperidone and Aripiprazole in Combination with Standard Supportive Therapies: A Large, Single-Center, Retrospective Case Series. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050618. [PMID: 35625005 PMCID: PMC9139358 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: There are a number of medications prescribed to address comorbid challenging behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including risperidone and aripiprazole. This retrospective case series reports the use of these drugs in children aged 2 to 13 years. Methodology: A total of 82 children (mean age, 5 years; 79% male) with ASD treated at the Kids Neuro Clinic and Rehab Center in Dubai between January 2020 and September 2021 were included in this retrospective case series. All patients had comorbid challenging behaviors that were resistant to standard supportive therapies alone and warranted pharmacological intervention. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale—2nd Edition Standard form (CARS2-ST) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI)—Severity (CGI-S) and CGI—Improvement (CGI-I) scales were used to assess the severity of ASD at baseline and to monitor response to treatment with risperidone or aripiprazole. Results: Besides the expected improvement in comorbid challenging behaviors, 79/82 patients (96%) attained a CGI-I score of 2 or 1 following treatment, and 35/82 patients (43%) achieved both a CGI-I score of 1 and minimal-to-no symptoms as per the CARS2-ST test, with complete resolution of their ASD signs and symptoms. The differences in the overall mean CARS2-ST and CGI-S scores pre- and post-treatment were statistically significant (Z = −7.86, p < 0.0001 for both), with pre- and post-treatment mean values of 42 and 23 for CARS2-ST, respectively, and 6 and 2 for CGI-S, respectively. The main side effects were asymptomatic elevated prolactin (n = 12) and excessive weight gain (n = 2). Conclusions: ASD core symptoms and comorbid behaviors in young children improved following chronic treatment with antipsychotic medications, either with or without medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, when combined with standard supportive therapies. Double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to verify these findings.
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Siafis S, Çıray O, Wu H, Schneider-Thoma J, Bighelli I, Krause M, Rodolico A, Ceraso A, Deste G, Huhn M, Fraguas D, San José Cáceres A, Mavridis D, Charman T, Murphy DG, Parellada M, Arango C, Leucht S. Pharmacological and dietary-supplement treatments for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Mol Autism 2022; 13:10. [PMID: 35246237 PMCID: PMC8896153 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-022-00488-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is still no approved medication for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This network meta-analysis investigated pharmacological and dietary-supplement treatments for ASD. METHODS We searched for randomized-controlled-trials (RCTs) with a minimum duration of seven days in ClinicalTrials.gov, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, WHO-ICTRP (from inception up to July 8, 2018), CENTRAL and PubMed (up to November 3, 2021). The co-primary outcomes were core symptoms (social-communication difficulties-SCD, repetitive behaviors-RB, overall core symptoms-OCS) measured by validated scales and standardized-mean-differences (SMDs). Associated symptoms, e.g., irritability/aggression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, dropouts and important side-effects, were investigated as secondary outcomes. Studies in children/adolescents and adults were analyzed separately in random-effects pairwise and network meta-analyses. RESULTS We analyzed data for 41 drugs and 17 dietary-supplements, from 125 RCTs (n = 7450 participants) in children/adolescents and 18 RCTs (n = 1104) in adults. The following medications could improve at least one core symptom domain in comparison with placebo: aripiprazole (k = 6 studies in analysis, SCD: SMD = 0.27 95% CI [0.09, 0.44], RB: 0.48 [0.26, 0.70]), atomoxetine (k = 3, RB:0.49 [0.18, 0.80]), bumetanide (k = 4, RB: 0.35 [0.09, 0.62], OCS: 0.61 [0.31, 0.91]), and risperidone (k = 4, SCM: 0.31 [0.06, 0.55], RB: 0.60 [0.29, 0.90]; k = 3, OCS: 1.18 [0.75, 1.61]) in children/adolescents; fluoxetine (k = 1, RB: 1.20 [0.45, 1.96]), fluvoxamine (k = 1, RB: 1.04 [0.27, 1.81]), oxytocin (k = 6, RB:0.41 [0.16, 0.66]) and risperidone (k = 1, RB: 0.97 [0.21,1.74]) in adults. There were some indications of improvement by carnosine, haloperidol, folinic acid, guanfacine, omega-3-fatty-acids, probiotics, sulforaphane, tideglusib and valproate, yet imprecise and not robust. Confidence in these estimates was very low or low, except moderate for oxytocin. Medications differed substantially in improving associated symptoms, and in their side-effect profiles. LIMITATIONS Most of the studies were inadequately powered (sample sizes of 20-80 participants), with short duration (8-13 weeks), and about a third focused on associated symptoms. Networks were mainly star-shaped, and there were indications of reporting bias. There was no optimal rating scale measuring change in core symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Some medications could improve core symptoms, although this could be likely secondary to the improvement of associated symptoms. Evidence on their efficacy and safety is preliminary; therefore, routine prescription of medications for the core symptoms cannot be recommended. Trial registration PROSPERO-ID CRD42019125317.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyridon Siafis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
| | - Oğulcan Çıray
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mardin State Hospital, Artuklu, Mardin, Turkey
| | - Hui Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Schneider-Thoma
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Irene Bighelli
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Marc Krause
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alessandro Rodolico
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic University Hospital 'Gaspare Rodolico', University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Anna Ceraso
- Department of Psychiatry, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Deste
- Department of Psychiatry, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maximilian Huhn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Social Foundation Bamberg, Teaching Hospital of the University of Erlangen, Bamberg, Germany
| | - David Fraguas
- Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC CIBERSAM, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonia San José Cáceres
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Dimitris Mavridis
- Department of Primary Education, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Declan G Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mara Parellada
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Celso Arango
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefan Leucht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
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Rayff da Silva P, do Nascimento Gonzaga TKS, Maia RE, Araújo da Silva B. Ionic Channels as Potential Targets for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1834-1849. [PMID: 34370640 PMCID: PMC9886809 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210809102547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that directly affects brain functions and can culminate in delayed intellectual development, problems in verbal communication, difficulties in social interaction, and stereotyped behaviors. Its etiology reveals a genetic basis that can be strongly influenced by socio-environmental factors. Ion channels controlled by ligand voltage-activated calcium, sodium, and potassium channels may play important roles in modulating sensory and cognitive responses, and their dysfunctions may be closely associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD. This is due to ionic flow, which is of paramount importance to maintaining physiological conditions in the central nervous system and triggers action potentials, gene expression, and cell signaling. However, since ASD is a multifactorial disease, treatment is directed only to secondary symptoms. Therefore, this research aims to gather evidence concerning the principal pathophysiological mechanisms involving ion channels in order to recognize their importance as therapeutic targets for the treatment of central and secondary ASD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bagnólia Araújo da Silva
- Address correspondence to this author at the Postgraduate Program in Natural Synthetic and Bioactive Products, Heath Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba - Campus I, 58051-085, Via Ipê Amarelo, S/N, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil; Tel: ++55-83-99352-5595; E-mail:
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Aishworiya R, Valica T, Hagerman R, Restrepo B. An Update on Psychopharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:248-262. [PMID: 35029811 PMCID: PMC9130393 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01183-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
While behavioral interventions remain the mainstay of treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), several potential targeted treatments addressing the underlying neurophysiology of ASD have emerged in the last few years. These are promising for the potential to, in future, become part of the mainstay treatment in addressing the core symptoms of ASD. Although it is likely that the development of future targeted treatments will be influenced by the underlying heterogeneity in etiology, associated genetic mechanisms influencing ASD are likely to be the first targets of treatments and even gene therapy in the future for ASD. In this article, we provide a review of current psychopharmacological treatment in ASD including those used to address common comorbidities of the condition and upcoming new targeted approaches in autism management. Medications including metformin, arbaclofen, cannabidiol, oxytocin, bumetanide, lovastatin, trofinetide, and dietary supplements including sulforophane and N-acetylcysteine are discussed. Commonly used medications to address the comorbidities associated with ASD including atypical antipsychotics, serotoninergic agents, alpha-2 agonists, and stimulant medications are also reviewed. Targeted treatments in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common genetic disorder leading to ASD, provide a model for new treatments that may be helpful for other forms of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramkumar Aishworiya
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
- Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Tatiana Valica
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Association for Children With Autism, Chisinau, Moldova
| | - Randi Hagerman
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Bibiana Restrepo
- Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis School of Medicine, 4610 X St, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
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Popow C, Ohmann S, Plener P. Practitioner's review: medication for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid conditions. NEUROPSYCHIATRIE : KLINIK, DIAGNOSTIK, THERAPIE UND REHABILITATION : ORGAN DER GESELLSCHAFT OSTERREICHISCHER NERVENARZTE UND PSYCHIATER 2021; 35:113-134. [PMID: 34160787 PMCID: PMC8429404 DOI: 10.1007/s40211-021-00395-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Alleviating the multiple problems of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its comorbid conditions presents major challenges for the affected children, parents, and therapists. Because of a complex psychopathology, structured therapy and parent training are not always sufficient, especially for those patients with intellectual disability (ID) and multiple comorbidities. Moreover, structured therapy is not available for a large number of patients, and pharmacological support is often needed, especially in those children with additional attention deficit/hyperactivity and oppositional defiant, conduct, and sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Popow
- Dept. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Ohmann
- Dept. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Paul Plener
- Dept. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Sasaki Y, Tsujii N, Sasaki S, Sunakawa H, Toguchi Y, Tanase S, Saito K, Shinohara R, Kurokouchi T, Sugimoto K, Itagaki K, Yoshida Y, Namekata S, Takahashi M, Harada I, Hakosima Y, Inazaki K, Yoshimura Y, Mizumoto Y, Okada T, Usami M. Current use of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications and clinical characteristics of child and adolescent psychiatric outpatients prescribed multiple ADHD medications in Japan. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252420. [PMID: 34081716 PMCID: PMC8174687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/aim Patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) manifest symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention. ADHD medications available in Japan are limited compared with those in Western countries. Prescribing status has not been sufficiently evaluated in clinical settings in Japan. This study investigated the current use of ADHD medications and characteristics of patients who received multiple ADHD medications in a clinical setting in Japan. Methods Study participants were those who visited the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital between April 2015 and March 2020. We investigated patients who received osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system methylphenidate, atomoxetine, or guanfacine. A retrospective case–control design was used to evaluate the characteristics of patients who received multiple ADHD medications. Patients who were given three ADHD medications were defined as the case group. Randomly sampled sex- and age-matched patients diagnosed with ADHD were defined as the control group. We compared data for child-to-parent violence, antisocial behavior, suicide attempt or self-harm, abuse history, refusal to attend school, and two psychological rating scales (the ADHD-Rating Scale and Tokyo Autistic Behavior Scale). Results Among the 878 patients who were prescribed any ADHD medications, 43 (4.9%) received three ADHD medications. Logistic regression revealed that children with severe ADHD symptoms, autistic characteristics, or tendency of child-to-parent violence were more likely to have been prescribed three medications during their treatment. Conclusions Our findings suggest the approach to prevent the use of multiple ADHD medications. A prospective study to investigate the causality between prescribing status and clinical characteristics is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Sasaki
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Noa Tsujii
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shouko Sasaki
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hikaru Sunakawa
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yusuke Toguchi
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Syuuichi Tanase
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Saito
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Rena Shinohara
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Toshinari Kurokouchi
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kaori Sugimoto
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kotoe Itagaki
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yukino Yoshida
- Clinical Center of Children’s Mental Health, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Saori Namekata
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Momoka Takahashi
- Clinical Center of Children’s Mental Health, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ikuhiro Harada
- Department of Social Worker, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuuki Hakosima
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kumi Inazaki
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuta Yoshimura
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuki Mizumoto
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takayuki Okada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahide Usami
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Clinical Center of Children’s Mental Health, Kohnodai Hospital, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- * E-mail: , ,
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Fuentes J, Hervás A, Howlin P. ESCAP practice guidance for autism: a summary of evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021; 30:961-984. [PMID: 32666205 PMCID: PMC8140956 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-020-01587-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Across Europe, there is increased awareness of the frequency and importance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is now recognised not only as a childhood disorder but as a heterogeneous, neurodevelopmental condition that persists throughout life. Services for individuals with autism and their families vary widely, but in most European countries, provision is limited. In 2018, European Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ESCAP) identified the need for a Practice Guidance document that would help to improve knowledge and practice, especially for individuals in underserviced areas. The present document, prepared by the ASD Working Party and endorsed by the ESCAP Board on October 3, 2019, summarises current information on autism and focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and treating this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquin Fuentes
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, Policlínica Gipuzkoa Research Consultant, GAUTENA Autism Society, Paseo de Miramón 174, 20016, San Sebastián, Spain.
| | - Amaia Hervás
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, University Hospital MutuaTerrassa, AGAUR Clinical and Genetic Research Group IGAIN, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Howlin
- Emeritus Professor of Clinical Child Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
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Correll CU, Cortese S, Croatto G, Monaco F, Krinitski D, Arrondo G, Ostinelli EG, Zangani C, Fornaro M, Estradé A, Fusar-Poli P, Carvalho AF, Solmi M. Efficacy and acceptability of pharmacological, psychosocial, and brain stimulation interventions in children and adolescents with mental disorders: an umbrella review. World Psychiatry 2021; 20:244-275. [PMID: 34002501 PMCID: PMC8129843 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Top-tier evidence on the safety/tolerability of 80 medications in children/adolescents with mental disorders has recently been reviewed in this jour-nal. To guide clinical practice, such data must be combined with evidence on efficacy and acceptability. Besides medications, psychosocial inter-ventions and brain stimulation techniques are treatment options for children/adolescents with mental disorders. For this umbrella review, we systematically searched network meta-analyses (NMAs) and meta-analyses (MAs) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating 48 medications, 20 psychosocial interventions, and four brain stimulation techniques in children/adolescents with 52 different mental disorders or groups of mental disorders, reporting on 20 different efficacy/acceptability outcomes. Co-primary outcomes were disease-specific symptom reduction and all-cause discontinuation ("acceptability"). We included 14 NMAs and 90 MAs, reporting on 15 mental disorders or groups of mental disorders. Overall, 21 medications outperformed placebo regarding the co-primary outcomes, and three psychosocial interventions did so (while seven outperformed waiting list/no treatment). Based on the meta-analytic evidence, the most convincing efficacy profile emerged for amphetamines, methylphenidate and, to a smaller extent, behavioral therapy in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; aripiprazole, risperidone and several psychosocial interventions in autism; risperidone and behavioral interventions in disruptive behavior disorders; several antipsychotics in schizophrenia spectrum disorders; fluoxetine, the combination of fluoxetine and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and interpersonal therapy in depression; aripiprazole in mania; fluoxetine and group CBT in anxiety disorders; fluoxetine/selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, CBT, and behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention in obsessive-compulsive disorder; CBT in post-traumatic stress disorder; imipramine and alarm behavioral intervention in enuresis; behavioral therapy in encopresis; and family therapy in anorexia nervosa. Results from this umbrella review of interventions for mental disorders in children/adolescents provide evidence-based information for clinical decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph U Correll
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Samuele Cortese
- Center for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences (CNS and Psychiatry), Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Solent NHS Trust, Southampton, UK
- Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, New York University Child Study Center, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | | | - Gonzalo Arrondo
- Center for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Mind-Brain Group, Institute for Culture and Society, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Caroline Zangani
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Fornaro
- Department of Psychiatry, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrés Estradé
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Catholic University, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Andre F Carvalho
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marco Solmi
- Neurosciences Department, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Alsayouf HA, Talo H, Biddappa ML, De Los Reyes E. Risperidone or Aripiprazole Can Resolve Autism Core Signs and Symptoms in Young Children: Case Study. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8050318. [PMID: 33921933 PMCID: PMC8143447 DOI: 10.3390/children8050318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Risperidone and aripiprazole are approved by the USA Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of irritability and aggression in children from the ages of 5 and 6 years, respectively. However, there are no approved medications for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) core signs and symptoms. Nevertheless, early intervention is recognized as key to improving long-term outcomes. This retrospective case study included 10 children (mean age, 2 years 10 months) with ASD who presented with persistent irritability and aggression before 4 years of age that was unresponsive to behavioral interventions and sufficiently severe to consider pharmacological intervention with risperidone or aripiprazole combined with standard supportive therapies. Besides ameliorating comorbid behaviors, improvement was observed in ASD core signs and symptoms for all patients, with minimal-to-no symptoms observed in 60% of patients according to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale 2-Standard Test and Clinical Global Impression scales. Excessive weight gain in two patients was the only adverse effect observed that required intervention. This is the first study to suggest that ASD can potentially be treated in very young children (<4 years). Clinical trials are urgently required to validate these findings among this pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza A. Alsayouf
- Kids Neuro Clinic and Rehab Center, Dubai Healthcare City, Al Razi Medical Complex, Dubai 1015, United Arab Emirates; (H.T.); (M.L.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +971-4557-0326
| | - Haitham Talo
- Kids Neuro Clinic and Rehab Center, Dubai Healthcare City, Al Razi Medical Complex, Dubai 1015, United Arab Emirates; (H.T.); (M.L.B.)
| | - Marisa L. Biddappa
- Kids Neuro Clinic and Rehab Center, Dubai Healthcare City, Al Razi Medical Complex, Dubai 1015, United Arab Emirates; (H.T.); (M.L.B.)
| | - Emily De Los Reyes
- Pediatric Neurology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
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32
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Correlates of Feeding Difficulties Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:255-274. [PMID: 33666799 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04947-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Feeding difficulties related to selective intake, or eating a limited variety of foods, are very common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL identified 29 studies that evaluated eight correlates: age, ASD symptoms and severity, cognitive and adaptive skills, sensory processing and perception, challenging behavior, weight status, gastrointestinal symptoms, and parenting stress. Feeding difficulties related to selective intake are consistently correlated with impaired sensory processing and perception and tend to be positively associated with rigidity and challenging behavior. These feeding difficulties tend to persist with advancing age. Other correlates demonstrated inconsistent findings. A significant limitation of research reviewed is variability in terminology, definitions, and measurement of feeding difficulties.
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Aye SZ, Ni H, Sein HH, Mon ST, Zheng Q, Wong YKY. The effectiveness and adverse effects of D-cycloserine compared with placebo on social and communication skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021; 2:CD013457. [PMID: 33583058 PMCID: PMC8094878 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013457.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been associated, in part, with the dysfunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors at excitatory synapses and glutamate abnormalities. Medications related to glutamatergic neurotransmission, such as D-cycloserine - which is a partial agonist of the NMDA glutamate receptor - are potential treatment options for the core features of ASD. However, the potential effect of D-cycloserine on the social and communication skills deficits of individuals with ASD has not been thoroughly explored and no systematic reviews of the evidence have been conducted. OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy and adverse effects of D-cycloserine compared with placebo for social and communication skills in individuals with ASD. SEARCH METHODS In November 2020, we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, six other databases and two trials registers. We also searched the reference lists of relevant publications and contacted the authors of the included study, Minshawi 2016, to identify any additional studies. In addition, we contacted pharmaceutical companies, searched manufacturers' websites and sources of reports of adverse events. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of any duration and dose of D-cycloserine, with or without adjunct treatment, compared to placebo in individuals with ASD. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted relevant data, assessed the risk of bias, graded the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach, and analysed and evaluated the data. We provide a narrative report of the findings as only one study is included in this review. MAIN RESULTS We included a single RCT (Minshawi 2016) funded by the United States Department of Defense. It was conducted at two sites in the USA: Indiana University School of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre. In the included study, 67 children with ASD aged between 5 and 11 years were randomised to receive either 10 weeks (10 doses) of (50 mg) D-cycloserine plus social skills training, or placebo plus social skills training. Randomisation was carried out 1:1 between D-cycloserine and placebo arms, and outcome measures were recorded at one-week post-treatment. The 'risk of bias' assessment for the included study was low for five domains and unclear for two domains. The study (67 participants) reported low certainty evidence of little to no difference between the two groups for all outcomes measured at one week post-treatment: social interaction impairment (mean difference (MD) 3.61 (assessed with the Social Responsiveness Scale), 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.60 to 12.82); social communication impairment (MD -1.08 (measured using the inappropriate speech subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC)), 95% CI -2.34 to 0.18); restricted, repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behaviour (MD 0.12 (measured by the ABC stereotypy subscale), 95% CI -1.71 to 1.95); serious adverse events (risk ratio (RR) 1.11, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.31); non-core symptoms of ASD (RR 0.97 (measured by the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale), 95% CI 0.49 to 1.93); and tolerability of D-cycloserine (RR 0.32 (assessed by the number of dropouts), 95% CI 0.01 to 7.68). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We are unable to conclude with certainty whether D-cycloserine is effective for individuals with ASD. This review included low certainty data from only one study with methodological issues and imprecision. The added value of this review compared to the included study is we assessed the risk of bias and evaluated the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. Moreover, if we find new trials in future updates of this review, we could potentially pool the data, which may either strengthen or decrease the evidence for our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swe Zin Aye
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Quest International University Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia
| | - Han Ni
- Department of Medicine, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Htwe H Sein
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Quest International University Perak, Ipoh, Malaysia
| | - San T Mon
- Department of Paediatrics, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Qishi Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology, Singapore Clinical Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
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Cox GR, Williams K, Woon JM, Haslam R, Ure A. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for autistic spectrum disorders. Hippokratia 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georgina R Cox
- Department of Paediatrics; Monash University; Melbourne Australia
- Neurodevelopment and Disability; The Royal Children's Hospital; Melbourne Australia
| | - Katrina Williams
- Department of Paediatrics; Monash University; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Paediatrics; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
- Developmental Paediatrics; Monash Children's Hospital; Melbourne Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Melbourne Australia
| | - Jade M Woon
- Neurodevelopment and Disability; The Royal Children's Hospital; Melbourne Australia
| | - Richard Haslam
- Mental Health Department; The Royal Children's Hospital; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Paediatrics; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - Alexandra Ure
- Department of Paediatrics; Monash University; Melbourne Australia
- Mental Health Department; The Royal Children's Hospital; Melbourne Australia
- Developmental Paediatrics; Monash Children's Hospital; Melbourne Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Melbourne Australia
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition characterized by impaired social communication as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors. It is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder because it is associated with neurologic changes that may begin in prenatal or early postnatal life, alters the typical pattern of child development, and produces chronic signs and symptoms that usually manifest in early childhood and have potential long-term consequences. In past decades, autism was conceptualized as a strictly defined set of behaviors, usually accompanied by intellectual impairment. Today, it is recognized as a spectrum, ranging from mild to severe, in which behaviors vary substantially and the majority of children who fall on the spectrum have average to above average intellectual ability. Here, the authors discuss the risk factors for ASD, its epidemiology, common concurrent conditions, evaluation, diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Christensen
- Deborah Christensen is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. Jennifer Zubler is a pediatric consultant at Eagle Global Scientific, San Antonio, TX. Contact author: Deborah Christensen, . The authors and planners have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise
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36
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Siafis S, Çıray O, Schneider-Thoma J, Bighelli I, Krause M, Rodolico A, Ceraso A, Deste G, Huhn M, Fraguas D, Mavridis D, Charman T, Murphy DG, Parellada M, Arango C, Leucht S. Placebo response in pharmacological and dietary supplement trials of autism spectrum disorder (ASD): systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Mol Autism 2020; 11:66. [PMID: 32847616 PMCID: PMC7448339 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00372-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Placebo response in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might dilute drug-placebo differences and hinder drug development. Therefore, this meta-analysis investigated placebo response in core symptoms. Methods We searched ClinicalTrials.gov, CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, WHO-ICTRP (up to July 8, 2018), and PubMed (up to July 4, 2019) for randomized pharmacological and dietary supplement placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) with a minimum of seven days of treatment. Single-group meta-analyses were conducted using a random-effects model. Standardized mean changes (SMC) of core symptoms in placebo arms were the primary outcomes and placebo positive response rates were a secondary outcome. Predictors of placebo response were investigated with meta-regression analyses. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO ID CRD42019125317. Results Eighty-six RCTs with 2360 participants on placebo were included in our analysis (87% in children/adolescents). The majority of trials were small, single-center with a duration of 8–12 weeks and published after 2009. Placebo response in social-communication difficulties was SMC = − 0.32, 95% CI [− 0.39, − 0.25], in repetitive behaviors − 0.23[− 0.32, − 0.15] and in scales measuring overall core symptoms − 0.36 [− 0.46, − 0.26]. Overall, 19%, 95% CI [16–22%] of participants were at least much improved with placebo. Caregiver (vs. clinician) ratings, lower risk of bias, flexible-dosing, larger sample sizes and number of sites, less recent publication year, baseline levels of irritability, and the use of a threshold of core symptoms at inclusion were associated with larger placebo response in at least a core symptom domain. Limitations About 40% of the trials had an apparent focus on core symptoms. Investigation of the differential impact of predictors on placebo and drug response was impeded by the use of diverse experimental interventions with essentially different mechanisms of action. An individual-participant-data meta-analysis could allow for a more fine-grained analysis and provide more informative answers. Conclusions Placebo response in ASD was substantial and predicted by design- and participant-related factors, which could inform the design of future trials in order to improve the detection of efficacy in core symptoms. Potential solutions could be the minimization and careful selection of study sites as well as rigorous participant enrollment and the use of measurements of change not solely dependent on caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyridon Siafis
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
| | - Oğulcan Çıray
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Balçova Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Johannes Schneider-Thoma
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Irene Bighelli
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Marc Krause
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Alessandro Rodolico
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Psychiatric Clinic University Hospital 'Gaspare Rodolico', University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Anna Ceraso
- Department of Psychiatry, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giacomo Deste
- Department of Psychiatry, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maximilian Huhn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy Social Foundation Bamberg, Teaching Hospital of the University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - David Fraguas
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health, IiSGM, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain.,School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dimitris Mavridis
- Department of Primary Education, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Tony Charman
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Declan G Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mara Parellada
- Department of Primary Education, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Celso Arango
- Department of Primary Education, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Stefan Leucht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany
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Methylphenidate in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Long-Term Follow up Naturalistic Study. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9082566. [PMID: 32784735 PMCID: PMC7463802 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9082566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often co-occurs with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although methylphenidate (MPH) efficacy and safety are well-demonstrated for ADHD, evidences are scant in the context of ASD. This naturalistic study aimed to analyze long-term MPH efficacy and safety in 40 ADHD children and adolescents with comorbid ASD, comparing them with 40 ones affected by ADHD without ASD. Treatment lasted from 6 to 156 months (longer than 24 months in more than three quarters of patients). Efficacy and safety were measured by clinical global impression and children global assessment scales; influence of intellectual functioning was examined. Comparisons between groups were made by Wilcoxon or Friedmann tests; relationships between functioning scores and other characteristics were analyzed by ordinal logistic and linear regression. Results demonstrated that MPH in patients with ASD was associated with significative reduction of illness severity, clinical improvement and amelioration of global functioning, without significant differences with patients having ADHD without ASD. The trend of reduction of illness severity and increase of global functioning were favorably related with intellectual functioning. No serious adverse events were reported. The findings showed that long-term MPH was effective and well-tolerated in ADHD children and adolescents with comorbid high functioning ASD.
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38
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Young S, Hollingdale J, Absoud M, Bolton P, Branney P, Colley W, Craze E, Dave M, Deeley Q, Farrag E, Gudjonsson G, Hill P, Liang HL, Murphy C, Mackintosh P, Murin M, O'Regan F, Ougrin D, Rios P, Stover N, Taylor E, Woodhouse E. Guidance for identification and treatment of individuals with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder based upon expert consensus. BMC Med 2020; 18:146. [PMID: 32448170 PMCID: PMC7247165 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01585-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with co-occurring hyperactivity disorder/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can have complex presentations that may complicate diagnosis and treatment. There are established guidelines with regard to the identification and treatment of ADHD and ASD as independent conditions. However, ADHD and ASD were not formally recognised diagnostically as co-occurring conditions until the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5) was published in 2013. Hence, awareness and understanding of both conditions when they co-occur is less established and there is little guidance in the clinical literature. This has led to uncertainty among healthcare practitioners when working with children, young people and adults who present with co-existing ADHD and ASD. The United Kingdom ADHD Partnership (UKAP) therefore convened a meeting of professional experts that aimed to address this gap and reach expert consensus on the topic that will aid healthcare practitioners and allied professionals when working with this complex and vulnerable population. METHOD UK experts from multiple disciplines in the fields of ADHD and ASD convened in London in December 2017. The meeting provided the opportunity to address the complexities of ADHD and ASD as a co-occurring presentation from different perspectives and included presentations, discussion and group work. The authors considered the clinical challenges of working with this complex group of individuals, producing a consensus for a unified approach when working with male and female, children, adolescents and adults with co-occurring ADHD and ASD. This was written up, circulated and endorsed by all authors. RESULTS The authors reached a consensus of practical recommendations for working across the lifespan with males and females with ADHD and ASD. Consensus was reached on topics of (1) identification and assessment using rating scales, clinical diagnostic interviews and objective supporting assessments; outcomes of assessment, including standards of clinical reporting; (2) non-pharmacological interventions and care management, including psychoeducation, carer interventions/carer training, behavioural/environmental and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches; and multi-agency liaison, including educational interventions, career advice, occupational skills and training, and (3) pharmacological treatments. CONCLUSIONS The guidance and practice recommendations (Tables 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10) will support healthcare practitioners and allied professionals to meet the needs of this complex group from a multidisciplinary perspective. Further research is needed to enhance our understanding of the diagnosis, treatment and management of individuals presenting with comorbid ADHD and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jack Hollingdale
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders, London, UK
| | - Michael Absoud
- Department of Children's Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Department of Women & Children's Health, King's College, London, UK
| | - Patrick Bolton
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Service for Complex Autism and Associated Neurodevelopmental Disorders, London, UK
| | | | | | - Emily Craze
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, National Autism Unit, Kent, UK
| | - Mayuri Dave
- Positive Behaviour, Learning Disability, Autism and Mental Health Service (PALMS) Hertfordshire Communication Disorders Clinics, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, St Albans, UK
| | - Quinton Deeley
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, National Autism Unit, Kent, UK
| | - Emad Farrag
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Gisli Gudjonsson
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Clodagh Murphy
- Behavioural and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group, Behavioural Genetics Clinic, National Adult Autism and ADHD Service, South London and Maudsley Foundation NHS Trust, London, UK.,Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Peri Mackintosh
- South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, National Autism Unit, Kent, UK
| | | | | | - Dennis Ougrin
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Patricia Rios
- Diagnostic Assessments and Treatment Services (DATS), Hertfordshire, UK
| | | | - Eric Taylor
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emma Woodhouse
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Ghirardi L, Chen Q, Chang Z, Kuja-Halkola R, Skoglund C, Quinn PD, D’Onofrio BM, Larsson H. Use of medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and risk of unintentional injuries in children and adolescents with co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2020; 61:140-147. [PMID: 31625605 PMCID: PMC6980200 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often associated with other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) and with risky behaviors and adverse health outcomes, including injuries. Treatment with ADHD medication has been associated with reduced risk of injuries. However, it is unknown whether the association is present in individuals with co-occurring NDs. The aim of the present study was to estimate the association between ADHD medication use and unintentional injuries in Sweden in children and adolescents with ADHD, including those with co-occurring NDs. METHODS Using a linkage of several national registers via the unique personal identification number, we identified individuals with a diagnosis of ADHD and of other NDs, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, communication disorders, learning disorders and motor disorders. The primary outcome was unintentional injuries. Secondary outcome was traumatic brain injury (TBI). Individuals were followed from January 1st 2006 or their 5th birthday or the date of the first unintentional injury, whichever came last, to December 31st 2013 or their 18th birthday or death, whichever came first. We compared the rate of injuries during periods on-treatment with the rate of injuries during periods off-treatment within the same individual using stratified Cox regression to calculate hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS For children and adolescents with ADHD (N = 9,421) the rate of any unintentional injuries (HR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.78-0.92) and TBIs (HR = 0.27; 95% CIs = 0.20-0.38) during medicated periods was lower than during non-medicated periods. Similar results were found among individuals with co-occurring NDs (N = 2,986), for unintentional injuries (HR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.77-1.01) and for TBIs (HR = 0.27; 95% CI = 0.16-0.44). CONCLUSIONS Beneficial effects of ADHD medication may extend beyond reduction of ADHD core symptoms to prevention of unintentional injuries in children and adolescents, including individuals with co-occurring NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ghirardi
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zheng Chang
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ralf Kuja-Halkola
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Skoglund
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrick D. Quinn
- Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Brian M. D’Onofrio
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Henrik Larsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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40
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Stein DJ, Szatmari P, Gaebel W, Berk M, Vieta E, Maj M, de Vries YA, Roest AM, de Jonge P, Maercker A, Brewin CR, Pike KM, Grilo CM, Fineberg NA, Briken P, Cohen-Kettenis PT, Reed GM. Mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders in the ICD-11: an international perspective on key changes and controversies. BMC Med 2020; 18:21. [PMID: 31983345 PMCID: PMC6983973 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-1495-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
An update of the chapter on Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is of great interest around the world. The recent approval of the 11th Revision of the ICD (ICD-11) by the World Health Organization (WHO) raises broad questions about the status of nosology of mental disorders as a whole as well as more focused questions regarding changes to the diagnostic guidelines for specific conditions and the implications of these changes for practice and research. This Forum brings together a broad range of experts to reflect on key changes and controversies in the ICD-11 classification of mental disorders. Taken together, there is consensus that the WHO's focus on global applicability and clinical utility in developing the diagnostic guidelines for this chapter will maximize the likelihood that it will be adopted by mental health professionals and administrators. This focus is also expected to enhance the application of the guidelines in non-specialist settings and their usefulness for scaling up evidence-based interventions. The new mental disorders classification in ICD-11 and its accompanying diagnostic guidelines therefore represent an important, albeit iterative, advance for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan J. Stein
- SA Medical Research Council Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Dept of Psychiatry & Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Peter Szatmari
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Wolfgang Gaebel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Berk
- Deakin University, IMPACT, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia
- Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health and the Centre for Youth Mental Health, Parkville, Australia
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Eduard Vieta
- Bipolar Disorders Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia Spain
| | - Mario Maj
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania ‘L. Vanvitelli’, Naples, Italy
| | - Ymkje Anna de Vries
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Annelieke M. Roest
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter de Jonge
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Maercker
- Department of Psychology – Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chris R. Brewin
- Research Deparment of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kathleen M. Pike
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY USA
| | - Carlos M. Grilo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Naomi A. Fineberg
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and University of Hertfordshire, Welwyn Garden City, UK
| | - Peer Briken
- Institute for Sex Research, Sexual Medicine & Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Geoffrey M. Reed
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY USA
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Muit JJ, Bothof N, Kan CC. Pharmacotherapy of ADHD in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effectiveness and Side Effects. J Atten Disord 2020; 24:215-225. [PMID: 31625426 PMCID: PMC6939322 DOI: 10.1177/1087054719866255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Symptoms of ADHD are expected to be more difficult to treat in patients with a combination of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as opposed to only ADHD. Little evidence is available on the influence of ASD on the effects of pharmacotherapy in adults with ADHD. This study addresses this gap. Method: 60 adults with ADHD and comorbid ASD were selected from an outpatient clinic and compared with 226 adults from the same clinic with only ADHD. Similar treatment regimens were received. Results: Significant decreases in symptoms of ADHD were found in both groups. A diagnosis of ASD did not affect the reduction in symptoms of ADHD. No significant group differences in side effects or vital signs were found. Conclusion: Results show that medication for ADHD can effectively and safely be prescribed to patients with ADHD and comorbid ASD. Suggestions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. J. Muit
- Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands,J. J. Muit, Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - N. Bothof
- GGZ Oost Brabant, Boekel, The Netherlands
| | - C. C. Kan
- Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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42
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Alsayouf HA, Talo H, Biddappa ML, Qasaymeh M, Qasem S, De Los Reyes E. Pharmacological Intervention in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder with Standard Supportive Therapies Significantly Improves Core Signs and Symptoms: A Single-Center, Retrospective Case Series. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2020; 16:2779-2794. [PMID: 33235453 PMCID: PMC7678471 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s277294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder with high heterogeneity and no clear common cause. Several drugs, in particular risperidone and aripiprazole, are used to treat comorbid challenging behaviors in children with ASD. Treatment with risperidone and aripiprazole is currently recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA for children aged 5 and 6 years and older, respectively. Here, we investigated the use of these medications in younger patients aged 4 years and older. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective case series included 18 children (mean age, 5.7 years) with ASD treated at the Kids Neuro Clinic and Rehab Center in Dubai. These patients began treatment with risperidone or aripiprazole at the age of 4 years and older, and all patients presented with comorbid challenging behaviors that warranted pharmacological intervention with either risperidone or aripiprazole. RESULTS All 18 children showed objective improvement in their ASD core signs and symptoms. Significant improvement was observed in 44% of the cases, and complete resolution (minimal-to-no-symptoms) was observed in 56% of the cases as per the Childhood Autism Rating Scale 2-Standard Test (CARS2-ST) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scales. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that the chronic administration of antipsychotic medications with or without ADHD medications is well tolerated and efficacious in the treatment of ASD core and comorbid symptoms in younger children when combined with standard supportive therapies. This is the first report to suggest a treatment approach that may completely resolve the core signs and symptoms of ASD. While the reported outcomes indicate significant improvement to complete resolution of ASD, pharmacological intervention should continue to be considered as part of a multi-component intervention in combination with standard supportive therapies. Furthermore, the findings support the critical need for double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to validate the outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Haitham Talo
- Kids Neuro Clinic and Rehab Center, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | | | | | - Shadi Qasem
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Emily De Los Reyes
- Pediatric Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital and Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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43
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Tunesi S, Bosio M, Russo AG. Do autistic patients change healthcare services utilisation through the transition age? An Italian longitudinal retrospective study. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e030844. [PMID: 31727653 PMCID: PMC6886997 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 8-year-olds in 2017 based on administrative databases and to investigate the change in healthcare service use during the healthcare transition age of 18. DESIGN This research is based on a longitudinal retrospective cohort study. SETTING The data is drawn from the Italian Administrative Healthcare Database (2010-2017). PARTICIPANTS We identified 5607 ASD patients; 331 ASD patients from 2012 to 2015 in the calendar year of their 18th birthday were selected and their health service utilisation during a 5-year period-ranging from 2 years preceding and succeeding their 18th year-were investigated. INTERVENTIONS None. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence, incidence and proportion of ASD patients receiving specific healthcare services were included in the outcome measures. RESULTS Prevalence of ASD at age 8 was 5.4/1000. Global access to health and social services was lower both before and after age 18 (46.5% at 16; 68.0% at 18; 54.1% at 20). The percentage of patients receiving a neuropsychiatric consultation decreased after age 18 (30.8% at 18; 5.4% at 20). Community mental health services (CMHS) utilisation rate increased above 18 years of age. Regarding psychiatric visits, for both outpatient and CMHS, an increase was observed from 17.8% at age 18 to 25.4% at age 20. The utilisation of rehabilitation services decreased with age, dropping from 17.8% at age 16 to 1.8% at age 20. Psychiatric outpatient services remained stable across ages at about 14%. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that ASD patients changed clinical reference services with age from neuropsychiatric and rehabilitative services towards psychiatric and community-based services as they transitioned from paediatric to adult healthcare services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Tunesi
- Epidemiology Unit, Agency for Health Protection of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Bosio
- Agency for Health Protection of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Therapeutic effects of methylphenidate for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children with borderline intellectual functioning or intellectual disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15908. [PMID: 31685858 PMCID: PMC6828952 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52205-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occurs with intellectual disability in children, and may further compromise learning. Methylphenidate is a first-line treatment for ADHD, however no previous meta-analysis has evaluated its overall efficacy for ADHD in children with comorbid intellectual disability (ID) or borderline intellectual functioning. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL and ScienceDirect databases were systematically searched from inception through 2018/7/15 for clinical studies that investigated the effects of methylphenidate in children with ADHD and ID. A random-effects model meta-analysis was used for data synthesis. Eight studies (average Jadad score = 2.5) enrolling 242 participants receiving methylphenidate and 181 participants receiving placebo were included. The meta-analysis showed that methylphenidate led to a significant improvement in ADHD symptoms relative to placebo (Hedges’ g = 0.878, p < 0.001). Meta-regression analysis pointed to an association between the dose of methylphenidate and overall improvement in ADHD severity (slope = 1.334, p < 0.001). Finally, there was no significant difference in drop-out rate [odds ratio (OR) = 1.679, p = 0.260] or rate of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (OR = 4.815, p = 0.053) between subjects receiving methylphenidate and those taking placebos. Our study suggests that methylphenidate retains its efficacy in children with ADHD and borderline intellectual functioning or ID.
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45
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Aye SZ, Ni H, Sein HH, Mon ST, Zheng Q, Wong YKY. D-cycloserine for autism spectrum disorder. Hippokratia 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Swe Zin Aye
- Quest International University Perak; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health; No 122A Jalan Haji Eusoff Ipoh Perak Malaysia 30250
| | - Han Ni
- SEGi University; Faculty of Medicine; Hospital Sibu, Jalan Ulu Oya Sibu Sarawak Malaysia 96000
| | - Htwe Htwe Sein
- Quest International University Perak; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health; No 122A Jalan Haji Eusoff Ipoh Perak Malaysia 30250
| | - San Thidar Mon
- Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia; Department of Paediatrics; No 1, Jalan Sarjana 1 Kota Ilmu, Educity@iskandar Johor Johor Malaysia 79200
| | - Qishi Zheng
- Singapore Clinical Research Institute; Department of Epidemiology; 31 Biopolis Way, Nanos #02-01 Singapore Singapore 138669
| | - Yoko Kin Yoke Wong
- Singapore Clinical Research Institute; Department of Epidemiology; 31 Biopolis Way, Nanos #02-01 Singapore Singapore 138669
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46
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Chang Z, Ghirardi L, Quinn PD, Asherson P, D’Onofrio BM, Larsson H. Risks and Benefits of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medication on Behavioral and Neuropsychiatric Outcomes: A Qualitative Review of Pharmacoepidemiology Studies Using Linked Prescription Databases. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:335-343. [PMID: 31155139 PMCID: PMC6697582 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication is one of the most commonly prescribed medication classes in child and adolescent psychiatry, and its use is increasing rapidly in adult psychiatry. However, major questions and concerns remain regarding the benefits and risks of ADHD medication, especially in real-world settings. We conducted a qualitative systematic review of studies that investigated the effects of ADHD medication on behavioral and neuropsychiatric outcomes using linked prescription databases from the last 10 years and identified 40 studies from Europe, North America, and Asia. Among them, 18 used within-individual designs to account for confounding by indication. These studies suggested short-term beneficial effects of ADHD medication on several behavioral or neuropsychiatric outcomes (i.e., injuries, motor vehicle accidents, education, substance use disorder), with estimates suggesting relative risk reduction of 9% to 58% for these outcomes. The within-individual studies found no evidence of increased risks for suicidality and seizures. Replication studies are needed for several other important outcomes (i.e., criminality, depression, mania, psychosis). The available evidence from pharmacoepidemiology studies on long-term effects of ADHD medication was less clear. We discuss time-varying confounding and other limitations that should be considered when interpreting results from pharmacoepidemiology studies. Furthermore, we highlight several knowledge gaps to be addressed in future research and implications for research on mechanisms of outcomes of ADHD medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Chang
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Laura Ghirardi
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrick D. Quinn
- Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | - Philip Asherson
- Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
| | - Brian M. D’Onofrio
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | - Henrik Larsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD: Overlapping Phenomenology, Diagnostic Issues, and Treatment Considerations. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2019; 21:34. [PMID: 30903299 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-019-1020-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are both increasing in prevalence and commonly co-occur with each other. The goal of this review is to outline what has been published recently on the topics of ASD, ADHD, and the comorbid state (ASD+ADHD) with a particular focus on shared phenomenology, differential diagnosis, and treatment considerations. RECENT FINDINGS ASD and ADHD have shared genetic heritability and are both associated with shared impairments in social functioning and executive functioning. Quantitative and qualitative differences exist, however, in the phenotypic presentations of the impairments which characterize ASD and ADHD. For ASD interventions to be maximally efficacious, comorbid ADHD needs to be considered (and vice versa). The research on ASD and ADHD suggests some overlap between the two disorders yet enough differences to indicate that these conditions are sufficiently distinct to warrant separate diagnostic categories.
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Use of Psychotropic Drugs among Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Denmark: A Nationwide Drug Utilization Study. J Clin Med 2018; 7:jcm7100339. [PMID: 30308952 PMCID: PMC6211111 DOI: 10.3390/jcm7100339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a considerable use of psychotropics. Leveraging nationwide registry data, we aimed to describe the use of psychotropics among children and adolescents with ASD in Denmark. Use of melatonin and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication increased from 2010 to 2017, while there were limited changes in use of antidepressants and antipsychotics. Thirty percent of the identified children used psychotropics in 2017 most commonly ADHD medication (17%) and melatonin (13%). Methylphenidate, sertraline and risperidone were most often prescribed. Most children filled more than one prescription and, across drug classes, at least 38% received treatment two years after treatment initiation. Use of psychotropics followed psychiatric comorbidities. Comorbidities did not affect age at treatment initiation. Use of psychotropics varied according to age and sex with limited use in the youngest children. In summary, psychotropic drug use has increased in children with ASD mainly due to an increase in the use of ADHD medication and melatonin. In accordance with previous studies, use seems to follow comorbidities. The long treatment duration underlines the need to investigate long-term effects of psychotropic drug use in children with ASD.
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49
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Prevalence of Psychotropic Medicine Use in Australian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Drug Utilization Study Based on Children Enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. J Autism Dev Disord 2018; 49:227-235. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3718-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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50
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Lord C, Elsabbagh M, Baird G, Veenstra-Vanderweele J. Autism spectrum disorder. Lancet 2018; 392:508-520. [PMID: 30078460 PMCID: PMC7398158 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(18)31129-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 959] [Impact Index Per Article: 159.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a term used to describe a constellation of early-appearing social communication deficits and repetitive sensory-motor behaviours associated with a strong genetic component as well as other causes. The outlook for many individuals with autism spectrum disorder today is brighter than it was 50 years ago; more people with the condition are able to speak, read, and live in the community rather than in institutions, and some will be largely free from symptoms of the disorder by adulthood. Nevertheless, most individuals will not work full-time or live independently. Genetics and neuroscience have identified intriguing patterns of risk, but without much practical benefit yet. Considerable work is still needed to understand how and when behavioural and medical treatments can be effective, and for which children, including those with substantial comorbidities. It is also important to implement what we already know and develop services for adults with autism spectrum disorder. Clinicians can make a difference by providing timely and individualised help to families navigating referrals and access to community support systems, by providing accurate information despite often unfiltered media input, and by anticipating transitions such as family changes and school entry and leaving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Lord
- Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, White Plains, NY, USA.
| | - Mayada Elsabbagh
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gillian Baird
- Evelina Children's Hospital, King's Health Partners, London, UK
| | - Jeremy Veenstra-Vanderweele
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, White Plains, NY, USA
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