title: New directions in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders from animal model research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Currently, there is not an effective pharmacotherapy for the core symptoms of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which include aberrant social behavior, delayed communication and repetitive behavior and/or restricted interests. There are several drugs that treat the symptoms associated with autism including irritability, aggressiveness and hyperactivity. Current drug research is based on the ongoing genetic, animal model and neuropathologic research. Two areas in particular, the glutamate and oxytocin systems, provide exciting new avenues for drug discovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review examines what approaches have been used for the drugs that are currently being used to treat people with ASD. For the most part, drugs that treat other neuropsychiatric disorders have been examined to treat the people with ASD, unfortunately with little effect on the core symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Until recently, there was not a plethora of knowledge about the neurobiological substrates of social behavior, pragmatic language usage and repetitive and/or restricted behaviors. Therefore, drug discovery has used the tools available for other neuropsychiatric disorders. Now that more biological information is available, there are many avenues for research for drug targets for ASD.
authors.affiliation: New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA. kathryn.chadman@opwdd.ny.gov
authors.forename: Kathryn K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chadman
authors.forename: Sara R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Guariglia
authors.forename: Jiyeon Helen
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055808:Drug Discovery; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000097806:GluK2 Kainate Receptor
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D008774:Methylphenidate; D010121:Oxytocin; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors; D018967:Risperidone; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000097806:GluK2 Kainate Receptor