title: [Clinical observation of aripiprazole in the treatment of autism].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect and safety of aripiprazole in the treatment of childhood autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five children (aged from 4 to 16 years) with autism presenting as behavioral disorders were treated with aripiprazole for 8 weeks. They were evaluated according to the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) before treatment and at the end of the 2nd, 4th and 8th weeks of treatment. Adverse reactions were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CGI showed illness severity decreased from the second week of aripiprazole treatment (P<0.05) and more significantly decreased illness severity was observed at the end of the 8th week (P<0.01). The curative effect score significantly increased at the end of the 8th week (P<0.05). The ATEC total scores were significantly reduced at the end of the 8th week after aripiprazole treatment. Besides the social intercourse ability, great improvements were shown in verbal communication, apperception and behavioural symptoms after aripiprazole treatment (P<0.01). Self-harm, sleep disorders and psychiatric symptoms were greatly improved after treatment and attention deficit, excessive activities, impulse to attack behavior, stereotyped behaviors and irritability were also improved to some extent. No severe adverse effects were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aripiprazole is safe and effective for the treatment of childhood autism.
authors.affiliation: Wuhan Mental Health Center, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hong-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole