title: Neurologic treatment strategies in autism: an overview of medical intervention strategies.
abstract: Child neurologists are likely to be caring for an increasing number of patients with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD may occur in as many as 1/100 to 1/200 births. It appears to be a multifactorial disease, with many phenotypes or subgroups. No simple treatment is currently approved for curing or managing core symptoms of autism. We rationally propose a symptom-based review of what treatments may offer relief to specific subtypes of clinical behaviors seen in autism. There is a lack of clinically based evidence on which to universally recommend a rational clinical algorithm for treatment; we suggest that rational pharmacotherapy may offer symptomatic relief to core areas of dysfunction in the autistic population. Future research into rational medical treatment options is desperately needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Chez
authors.forename: Shoaib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hung
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins