title: [Psychopharmacology of autism spectrum disorders].
abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are persistent, heterogeneous conditions that display many comorbid problems. Especially maladaptive behaviours like increased irritability, aggression, impulsivity and self-injurious behaviours are perceived as enormously stressful and can interfere with interventions targeting social and communication deficits. Medication treatments focussing on troubling comorbid problems in ASD can be fundamentally ameliorative, although core features of the disorder itself cannot be sufficiently treated. While atypical antipsychotics and stimulant medication have been proven to be effective in large multisite networks of ASD, serotonin reuptake inhibitors are of limited efficacy. Novel pharmacotherapies to improve social impairment are in the early stages of research.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit , J5, 68159, Mannheim. Luise.Poustka@zi-mannheim.de
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poustka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banaschewski
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poustka
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors