Quetiapine in nine youths with autistic disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of quetiapine in adolescents suffering from autistic disorder (AD).


METHODS
This was a 12-week, open-label study, for which medically healthy patients with AD between the ages of 10 and 17 years were eligible. Quetiapine treatment was gradually increased over the first 6 weeks of the study, to a total daily dose of 300 mg/day. Doses could then be increased to a maximum daily dose of 750 mg/day. Outcome measures included the Children's Psychiatric Rating Scale (CPRS) and the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale.


RESULTS
Nine (9) males were enrolled. Six (6) patients had previously been treated with other psychotropic agents. Although improvements in several symptom domains were observed on quetiapine, only 2 patients met a priori criteria for response ("much" or "very much improved" on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale). In addition, only these same 2 patients' parents/guardians chose to continue quetiapine pharmacotherapy after study participation.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that quetiapine may not be a particularly effective agent in the treatment of adolescent patients with AD. However, should future studies be performed, it seems reasonable that they be conducted with more rigor, less treatment-resistant cohorts, and, possibly, a different dosing strategy.
Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University Hospitals of Cleveland/Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-5080, USA. Robert.Findling@uhhs.com
Robert L
RL
Findling
Nora K
NK
McNamara
Barbara L
BL
Gracious
Mary Ann
MA
O'Riordan
Michael D
MD
Reed
Christine
C
Demeter
Jeffrey L
JL
Blumer
D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate