Medical Therapies For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder—An Update

On February 23, 2017, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released this update report on medical therapies for children with autism spectrum disorder. The report was prepared for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality by Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center in Nashville, TN.

The report looked at how risperidone, aripiprazole, methylphenidate, atomoxetine, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, N-acetylcysteine, tetrahydrobiopterin may benefit challenging behaviors in the short-term. Data on longer term (≥6 months) results and harms of most interventions are lacking. Similarly, more research is needed to understand characteristics of the child or treatment that . . .