Medications in the Autistic spectrum disorders

46 Pages·2014·7.79 MB·English

Medication for children with
autism
James Scott
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
&
The University of Queensland Centre for
Clinical Research
Murray
9 year old boy
Autistic spectrum
Escalating aggression
Siblings upset and frightened
Mum feeling exhausted
Teachers reporting more difficulties with
behaviour at school
Medications in ASD
•
Difficult decision
•
Expectations about benefits
•
Anxiety about risks
•
How do we optimise the benefits and
reduce the risks of medications?
1. What can medication do for
children with ASD?
Medications for ASD
•
Medication has virtually no role in
managing the Core Features
– Impaired communication
– Difficulty with socialisation
– Repetitive behaviours
– Restricted interests

BUT
Medications can help with the
emotional/ behavioural problems
associated with ASD
•
Aggression
•
Inattention
•
Anxiety
•
Depression/ Mood swings
•
Sleep problems
Case Example Larry
Larry
•
7 year old boy with ASD
– Severe tantrums at home and school
– Running away
– Aggressive
– Assessed as being very impulsive and having
poor attention
– Non-medication interventions hadn’t worked
– Atomoxetine resulted in Larry being able to sit
still and listen
2. Does this child need medication?
You need to consider
•
Are the problems severe enough?
•
Have other interventions been tried?
•
Will the medication help the problems?