Ziprasidone in adolescents with autism: an open-label pilot study.

Introduction: The antipsychotic drugs are the best-studied agents shown to reduce symptoms in autism, including hyperactivity, aggression, self-abusive behavior, temper tantrums, lability, irritability, social withdrawal, and stereotypical behaviors. However, significant weight gain has been associated with use of many atypical agents. Ziprasidone has been weight neutral in adult populations, but data from adolescents and patients with autism are sparse.

Impersistence of depression in youth: Implications for drug study design.

Food and Drug Administration data show that most anti-depressant studies in youth do not show drug effect. The few positive studies used rigorous diagnostic screening procedures, suggesting major depressive disorder (MDD) may not be a persistent condition in a subgroup of youth. To investigate persistence of MDD, we serially assessed a cohort of inpatients admitted to the hospital with a clinical diagnosis of MDD.

Advances in drug treatments for children and adolescents with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders.

Autism is a disorder characterised by abnormalities in language and social development, and repetitive behaviours. Antipsychotics, including haloperidol and risperidone, are the most widely studied drugs for reducing symptoms in children and adolescents with autism. When administered at relatively low dosages, antipsychotics have been shown to reduce repetitive behaviours (stereotypies) and social withdrawal, as well as a number of related symptoms, such as hyperactivity, aggression, self-abusive behaviour, temper tantrums, lability of mood and irritability.

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

Objective: 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.