Logo image
Risperidone treatment in children and adolescents with autism: short- and long-term safety and effectiveness
Journal article

Risperidone treatment in children and adolescents with autism: short- and long-term safety and effectiveness

Richard P Malone, Greg Maislin, Muniya S Choudhury, Cynthia Gifford and Mary Anne Delaney
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, v 41(2), pp 140-147
Feb 2002
PMID: 11837403

Abstract

Adolescent Analysis of Variance Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use Autistic Disorder - drug therapy Child Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced - etiology Humans Risperidone - adverse effects Risperidone - therapeutic use Time Factors
Atypical neuroleptics, including risperidone, are used to treat children with autism, despite limited efficacy and safety data. Many clinicians believe that risperidone will not induce dyskinesias in children. The authors investigated open risperidone treatment in children with autism and included findings on dyskinesias. The sample included 22 outpatients (mean age = 7.1 years) diagnosed with autism (DSM-IV). Treatment consisted of a 1-month short-term phase followed by a 6-month long-term phase. At the end of the long-term phase, drug was discontinued, and the need for further drug treatment and the occurrence of withdrawal dyskinesias were assessed. Measures included the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI), Children's Psychiatric Rating Scale (CPRS), and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. The mean risperidone dosage was 1.2 mg/day. Overall, the children had significant clinical improvement as assessed by the CPRS and CGI. Untoward effects included sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. Two of 13 (15.4%) children treated long-term developed mild, reversible withdrawal dyskinesias when risperidone was discontinued. No child developed dyskinesias on risperidone. Risperidone shows promise as a treatment in autism. However, withdrawal dyskinesias were noted. Further assessment of the risk of risperidone-related dyskinesias is indicated.

Metrics

12 Record Views
130 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Psychology, Developmental
Logo image