title: Risperidone use in the treatment of behavioral symptoms in children with autism.
abstract: The overall goal of autism treatment is to help the individual function normally or near normal in society (NICHD, 2004). Children and adolescents with autism can display disruptive behaviors, which has created challenges and barriersfor teachers, caretakers, and medical professionals. In an attempt to control these behaviors, medical providers are prescribing psychotropic drugs that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of autism in children. Conventional neuroleptics have been used to treat the more aggressive and violent behaviors associated with autism, but many healthcare professionals and families consider their side effects unacceptable. As a result, atypical antipsychotic drugs, such as risperidone, are being studied as off-label medications to treat autism because of their increased safety and efficacy over conventional neuroleptics. This article will discuss the use of risperidone as a potentially safe and effective treatment for disruptive behavioral symptoms in children with autism.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Julee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldrop
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D018967:Risperidone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018967:Risperidone