Objectives: To describe the scope of psychotropic medication use in ASD.
Methods: The study population consisted of children and adolescents ages 2 -18 years entered in the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) Registry. The ATN collects data on children with ASD (autism, Asperger disorder, or PDD-NOS) at 14 sites across the US and Canada. Psychotropic medication use was established by both parent and clinician report of use and entry into the registry. Results: Medication data were available on 415 children. Of these, 112 (27%) were taking at least one psychotropic medication. Of the 48 children under the age of 3, 2 (4%) were taking at least one psychotropic medication. Of the 184 children between the ages of 3 and 5, 21 (11%) were taking at least one psychotropic medication and 4 (2%) taking two or more. Of the 131 children between the ages of 6 and 10, 58 (44%) were taking at least one psychotropic medication with 29 (22%) taking two or more medications and 4 (3%) taking four or more medications. Of the 52 children older than 10 years, 31 (60%) were taking at least one psychotropic medication with 23 of these (74% of children on medication, 44% overall) on two or more medications. Of the total 112 children receiving psychotropic medication, 52 (46%) were on two or more medications. Most commonly prescribed medications were risperidone, alpha agonists, methylphenidate, SSRI, amphetamine and atomoxetine. Most common reasons for medications were hyperactivity, repetitive behaviors, irritability and attentional concerns.
Psychotropic Medication Use | ||||
<3yo n=48 | 3-5 n=184 | 6-10 n=131 | >10yo n=52 | |
None | 46 (96%) | 163 (89%) | 73 (56%) | 21 (40%) |
1 | 2 (4%) | 17 (9%) | 29 (22%) | 8 (15%) |
2 or more | 0 | 4 (2%) | 29 (22%) | 23 (44%) |
Conclusions: Prescription of psychotropic medications is common in ASD, and prescription of multiple medications is also common. Children at different ages show different treatment patterns.