A longitudinal investigation of psychotropic and non-psychotropic medication use among adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders.
Medication use was examined in 286 adolescents and adults with ASD over a 4.5 year period. A total of 70% were taking a psychotropic or non-psychotropic medication at the beginning of the study. Both the number of psychotropic and non-psychotropic medications taken, and the proportion of individuals taking these medications, increased significantly over the study period, with 81% taking at least one medication 4.5 years later. Our findings suggested a high likelihood of staying medicated over time. Thus, adolescents and adults with ASD are a highly and increasingly medicated population.
Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, rm 561, Madison, WI 53705, USA. esbensen@waisman.wisc.edu
Anna J
AJ
Esbensen
Jan S
JS
Greenberg
Marsha Mailick
MM
Seltzer
Michael G
MG
Aman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014922:Wisconsin; D055815:Young Adult
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs