[An open trial of risperidone in autistic children]

Clinical effects of risperidone were evaluated in 9 young autistic children under informed consent of their parents. The patients were evaluated by the Children's Behavioral Checklist and Rutter's Autistic Behavioral Rating Scale. After the administration, two subjects (playing and adaptation to change) of the Children's Behavioral Checklist and four (anomalous autistic behavior, destructive behavior, developmental problem and activity level) of the Rutter's Autistic Behavioral Rating Scale were improved significantly. There were no serious side effects such as extrapyramidal symptoms except minor adverse effects including sedation, depression, increased appetite and constipation. Risperidone might be effective for serious behavioral disturbances in young autistic children.