Robust clinical evidence has not been available for melatonin, a drug commonly administered for treating sleep problems of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a phase 3 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, we administered 1-mg melatonin (n = 65), 4-mg melatonin (n = 65), or placebo (n = 66) to 196 children with ASD once…

Catatonia is a severe clinical syndrome which has been increasingly reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The prevalence of catatonia in ASD is unknown. Diagnosing catatonia in ASD is complicated by overlapping clinical features such as mutism, stereotypies, and echophenomena. Here, we present the clinical histories of two individuals with…

Recent decades have been marked by a wave drug treatment research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This work has resulted in improved ability to treat commonly occurring behavioral challenges associated with ASD including most prominently irritability marked by aggression, self-injurious behavior, and severe tantrums. While treatment of…

It is important for children to learn safety skills, especially involving dangerous stimuli such as medicine that can be found in almost every household. This study examined a generalization-enhanced behavioral skills training package to teach children with autism poison safety skills. Three children ages 4- to 10-years-old received generalization…

The purpose of this review was to understand the impact of second generation antipsychotic (SGA)-induced weight gain on youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), including the clinical evidence, mechanisms, monitoring guidelines, and treatments. To achieve this, multiple MEDLINE/PUBMED and Google database searches were performed and analyzed…

Research indicates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently exhibit dysregulation, which refers to poorly coordinated affective, behavioral, and cognitive responses to a given situation. We examined the characteristics of dysregulation in children presenting to a multidisciplinary ASD clinic for an ASD diagnostic evaluation.…

There are currently no approved pharmacological treatments to improve social reciprocity and limit repetitive and rigid behaviors in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We describe the design of two Phase III studies evaluating the efficacy/safety of bumetanide oral liquid formulation in ASD. These are international, multicenter, randomized,…

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with high services use, but European data on costs are scarce. Utilisation and annual costs of 385 individuals with ASD (aged 4-67 years; 18.2% females; 37.4% IQ < 85) from German outpatient clinics were assessed. Average annual costs per person were 3287 EUR, with psychiatric inpatient care…

Ophthalmic examinations of developmentally delayed/autistic children are challenging. Oral midazolam may be a viable alternative to general anaesthesia for this indication. Single-centre retrospective cohort study (January 2018-March 2020). Oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg, max 15 mg). Metrics included: patient demographics, examination completion rate,…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disorder. In the UK, risperidone is the only psychotropic medication approved for the management of the behavioural symptoms that may accompany autism. This is a population-based study aimed to provide an evaluation of the changing trend in the incidence and prevalence of ASD and to analyse the pattern…

"Beta"-adrenergic antagonism (e.g. propranolol) has been associated with cognitive/behavioral benefits following stress-induced impairments and for some cognitive/behavioral domains in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. In this preliminary investigation, we examined whether the benefits of propranolol are associated with…

Dysregulation of glutamate neurotransmission plays a critical role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pathophysiology and is a primary target for core deficit research treatment trials. The mechanism of action of ketamine has striking overlap with the theory of ASD as a disorder of synaptic communication and neuronal networks. This two-dose,…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted developmental disability requiring specialized supports. Due to the growing diagnoses of ASD, the demand for behavior treatment centers has also grown. These centers offer a wide range of beneficial services to children with ASD, including medication administration and management. While centers may…

Although epilepsy commonly presents with autism in children, it is currently unknown whether established estimates represent the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy in autistic adults. Our objective was to use population-level Medicaid data to determine prevalence, incidence, and antiepileptic drug use associated with epilepsy in a unique…

A retrospective analysis of administrative claims data from a large U.S. health insurer was performed to study a potential association between oral antibiotic use during early childhood and occurrence of later gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Among 3253 children with ASD, 37.0% had a GI-related…