Aripiprazole for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) encompass Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
• Irritability is a common symptom in ASD, often managed with antipsychotic medications.
• Aripiprazole, a third-generation atypical antipsychotic, offers a distinct mechanism of action compared to other antipsychotics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of aripiprazole in treating individuals diagnosed with ASD.
• To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials regarding aripiprazole's impact on ASD symptoms and side effects.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (e.g., CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO) up to May 2011.
• Inclusion criteria focused on randomized controlled trials comparing aripiprazole to placebo for ASD treatment.
• Data extraction and meta-analysis were performed by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• Two randomized controlled trials involving 316 children with ASD were analyzed, demonstrating a low risk of bias.
• Aripiprazole treatment led to significant improvements in irritability, hyperactivity, and stereotypy subscales of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC).
• Adverse effects included a mean weight gain of 1.13 kg and increased risk ratios for sedation (4.28) and tremor (10.26) compared to placebo.

Conclusions:

• Aripiprazole shows efficacy in managing behavioral symptoms such as irritability, hyperactivity, and stereotypies in children with ASD.
• Key side effects to monitor include weight gain, sedation, drooling, and tremor.
• Further long-term studies are recommended to fully assess the safety and efficacy of aripiprazole in individuals with ASD.