Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2021;19(4):538-552.
doi: 10.2174/1570159X18666200529151741.

Effects of Risperidone in Autistic Children and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Brayan Jonas Mano-Sousa  1 , Alessandra Moraes Pedrosa  1 , Bruna Cristina Alves  1 , José Carlos Fernandes Galduróz  2 , Vinícius Silva Belo  1 , Valéria Ernestânia Chaves  1 , Joaquim Maurício Duarte-Almeida  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Effects of Risperidone in Autistic Children and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Brayan Jonas Mano-Sousa et al. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2021.

Abstract

There are several studies investigating the effects of risperidone on autism, but many of these studies are contradictory or inconclusive. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of risperidone on five domains of the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC) scale on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as weight gain and waist circumference. The protocol for the present systematic review and meta-analysis was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). For this study, we analysed articles (2,459), selecting them according to the PICOS strategy (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study design). Although risperidone is effective for the treatment of lethargy and inadequate speech, concerns about the association between weight gain, waist circumference and risperidone require a need for evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio in its use. There was a significant association between weight gain, waist circumference and risperidone. In conclusion, it was possible to suggest the efficacy of risperidone for the treatment of lethargy and inadequate speech. Finally, we emphasize that the risk-benefit in its use should be evaluated (Protocol number CRD42019122316).

Keywords: Weight gain; aberrant behavior checklist; autism spectrum disorder; risperidone; systematic review; waist circumference.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
PRISMA Flowchart reporting the study screening process. ABC Scale: Aberrant Behaviour Checklist scale.
Fig. (2)
Fig. (2)
Results of the meta-analysis of the evaluation of ABC scale total score on treatment with risperidone: (A) short-term (until up 8 weeks); (B) long-term (after 8 weeks). Confidence Interval (CI), Heterogeneity (I2) and heterogeneity’s p-value (p).
Fig. (3)
Fig. (3)
Results of the meta-analysis of the evaluation of irritability in the ABC scale on treatment with risperidone: (A) short-term (until up 8 weeks); (B) long-term (after 8 weeks); (C) versus placebo. Confidence Interval (CI), Heterogeneity (I2) and heterogeneity’s p-value (p).
Fig. (4)
Fig. (4)
Results of the meta-analysis of the evaluation of hyperactivity in the ABC scale on treatment with risperidone: (A) short-term (until up 8 weeks); (B) long-term (after 8 weeks); (C) versus placebo. Confidence Interval (CI), Heterogeneity (I2) and heterogeneity’s p-value (p).
Fig. (5)
Fig. (5)
Results of the meta-analysis of the evaluation of inappropriate speech in the ABC scale on treatment with risperidone: (A) short-term (until up 8 weeks); (B) long-term (after 8 weeks); (C) versus placebo. Confidence Interval (CI), Heterogeneity (I2) and heterogeneity’s p-value (p).
Fig. (6)
Fig. (6)
Results of the meta-analysis of the evaluation of lethargy (social withdrawal) in the ABC scale on treatment with risperidone: (A) short-term (until up 8 weeks); (B) long-term (after 8 weeks); (C) versus placebo. Confidence Interval (CI), Heterogeneity (I2) and heterogeneity’s p-value (p).
Fig. (7)
Fig. (7)
Results of the meta-analysis of the evaluation of stereotypic behaviour in the ABC scale on treatment with risperidone: (A) short-term (until up 8 weeks); (B) long-term (after 8 weeks); (C) versus placebo. Confidence Interval (CI), Heterogeneity (I2) and heterogeneity’s p-value (p).
Fig. (8)
Fig. (8)
Results of the meta-analysis of the evaluation of weight gain on treatment with risperidone: (A) short-term (until up 8 weeks); (B) long-term (after 8 weeks); (C) versus placebo in short-term (until up 8 weeks); (D) versus placebo in long-term (after 8 weeks). Confidence Interval (CI), Heterogeneity (I2) and heterogeneity’s p-value (p).
Fig. (9)
Fig. (9)
Results of the meta-analysis of the evaluation of waist circumference on treatment with risperidone in long-term (after 8 weeks). Confidence Interval (CI), Heterogeneity (I2) and heterogeneity’s p-value (p).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American Psychiatric Association . Desk reference to the diagnostic criteria from DSM-5. 5th ed. Choice Rev. Online; 2013.
    1. Sharma A., Shaw S.R. Efficacy of risperidone in managing maladaptive behaviors for children with autistic spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis. J. Pediatr. Health Care. 2012;26(4):291–299. doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2011.02.008. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Lai M., Lombardo M.V., Baron-Cohen S.A., Chan A.S., Sze S.L. Autism and epilepsy. Lancet Publishing Group. 2014;383:1–5.
    1. Associação Psiquiátrica Americana . Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Transtornos Mentais. 5th ed. São Paulo: Artmed; 2014.
    1. Scahill L., Sukhodolsky D.G., Anderberg E., Dimitropoulos A., Dziura J., Aman M.G., McCracken J., Tierney E., Hallett V., Katz K., Vitiello B., McDougle C. Sensitivity of the modified Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale to detect change: Results from two multi-site trials. Autism. 2016;20(2):145–152. doi: 10.1177/1362361315574889. - DOI - PubMed