title: Brief report: retrospective case series of oxcarbazepine for irritability/agitation symptoms in autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: We examined response to oxcarbazepine prescribed for irritability/agitation symptoms in a retrospective case series of 30 patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The average patient was 12.0 years old (range 5-21) and taking two other psychotropic medications (range 0-4). Fourteen patients (47 %) had a clinical global impression of improvement score of 'much improved' during treatment. Ten patients (33 %) showed an improvement on their clinical global impression of severity score. Seven patients (23 %) had a clinically significant adverse event or side effect leading to oxcarbazepine discontinuation. Without a placebo group, it is not possible to evaluate whether oxcarbazepine provides benefit for irritability/agitation symptoms in ASD. The high rate of adverse events suggests its use should be accompanied by caution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1601 23rd Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: Kevin B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: M Hannah
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Benneyworth
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Virginia M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Dejean
authors.forename: Susan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: McGrew
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veenstra-Vanderweele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C476610:oxcarbamazepine; D002220:Carbamazepine