title: Safety and efficacy of donepezil in children and adolescents with autism: neuropsychological measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There has been recent interest in the use of cognitive enhancing drugs, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, as a possible treatment for executive functioning (EF) deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The goal of this study was to assess the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of donepezil on EF in a sample of children and adolescents with ASD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four children and adolescents with ASD (age range 8-17 years; IQ >75) were enrolled in a 10-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of donepezil (doses of 5 and 10 mg), followed by a 10-week open label trial for placebo nonresponders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effect of donepezil treatment on EF was examined. Despite improvement on a number of EF measures, no statistically significant between-group differences were found (with gains observed for both the placebo and donepezil groups).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that short-term treatment with donepezil may have limited impact on cognitive functioning in ASD. Future controlled trials may need to consider a longer treatment period to detect significant gains on EF measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA. handenbl@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Benjamin L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Handen
authors.forename: Cynthia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McAuliffe-Bellin
authors.forename: Patricia Jo
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Antonio Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Hardan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077265:Donepezil; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil