Psychopharmacology Management in Autism Spectrum Disorder
- PMID: 38423721
- DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.12.001
Psychopharmacology Management in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Abstract
Persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have other psychiatric conditions that warrant treatment. Symptoms may not be easy to discern from rigidity or irritability that are sometimes considered to be constituent parts of ASD. Pathophysiology that involves hyperexcitable neurons and anomalous connectivity may provide justification for using psychopharmacologic agents, although nonmedical strategies may also be effective. Hyperactivity, irritability, and tantrums with or without aggression may be rational targets for psychopharmacological intervention. The best-studied drug class to date has been the second-generation antipsychotics targeting irritability.
Keywords: Antipsychotic; Autism; Autism spectrum disorder; Behavior; Clinical trial; Neuropsychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Treatment.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Disclosures Dr J.A. Salpekar has been a consultant for Cerevel Therapeutics and receives royalties from Springer and from Elsevier. Dr J.A. Salpekar’s institution receives research funding from Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Dr L. Scahill has served as a consultant to Johnson and Johnson, Impel NeuroPharma & Cogstate Ltd. He has received licensing fees from Roche, Yamo Pharmaceuticals & Abbvie and book royalties from Oxford, Guilford, and American Psychological Association.
