title: Medications for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although many treatments have been studied in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), less attention has focused on interventions that may be helpful in adolescents and young adults with ASD. The goal of this study was to systematically review evidence regarding medication treatments for individuals between the ages of 13 and 30 years with ASD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Medline, PsycINFO, and ERIC databases were searched (1980-December 2011), as were reference lists of included articles. Two investigators independently assessed studies against predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Two investigators independently extracted data regarding participant and intervention characteristics, assessment techniques, and outcomes and assigned overall quality and strength of evidence ratings on the basis of predetermined criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies of medications were identified that focused on 13- to 30-year-olds with ASD; 4 of the studies were of fair quality. The strength of evidence was insufficient for all outcomes associated with medications tested in this population; however, the 2 available studies of the atypical antipsychotic medication risperidone in this age range were consistent with the moderate evidence in children with ASD for treating problem behavior, including aggression, and high strength of evidence for adverse events, including sedation and weight gain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a marked lack of data on use of medication treatments for adolescents and young adults with ASD. The evidence on the use of risperidone in this age range is insufficient when considered alone but is consistent with the data in the population of children with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
authors.forename: Dwayne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dove
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McPheeters
authors.forename: Julie Lounds
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Nila A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sathe
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veenstra-VanderWeele
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D009271:Naltrexone; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018967:Risperidone; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors