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Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
Published on: July 31, 2016
Aripiprazole Improved Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms in Asperger's Disorder
Gonca Celik1, Aysegul Yolga Tahiroglu, Sunay Firat
1Department of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
Summary
This case report details successful treatment of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a child with Asperger's Disorder using aripiprazole. Aripiprazole shows promise for treating comorbid autism spectrum disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder in children.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Psychopharmacology
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently present with comorbid conditions in children and adolescents.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common comorbidity in ASD, yet treatment options for this specific population are sparsely reported.
- Limited literature exists on the psychopharmacological management of obsessive-compulsive symptoms within the context of childhood ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a successful case of psychopharmacological intervention for obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a child diagnosed with Asperger's Disorder.
- To evaluate the efficacy of aripiprazole in managing comorbid obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a pediatric patient with an autism spectrum disorder.
- To contribute to the understanding of treatment strategies for OCD in children with ASD.
Main Methods:
- A case study approach was employed to document the treatment.
- Aripiprazole was administered to a child with Asperger's Disorder exhibiting obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
- Symptom severity and variety were assessed using the Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).
Main Results:
- The administration of aripiprazole resulted in a successful reduction of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
- The Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale indicated a positive response to the treatment.
- The patient demonstrated improvement in managing obsessive-compulsive symptoms while on aripiprazole therapy.
Conclusions:
- Aripiprazole appears to be an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children with Asperger's Disorder and potentially other autism spectrum disorders.
- This case report suggests that aripiprazole may be a beneficial therapeutic option for pediatric patients with comorbid OCD and ASD.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole for this specific comorbidity in child and adolescent populations.
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