Treating a Child With Mental Illness

Drug treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with stimulants, such as methylphenidate, has been widespread across the developed countries and is also becoming common in adults. However, this seemingly effective treatment is not without controversy on the evidence that supports their use. In addition, disparities in the frequency of its use across the world are tremendous. Although stimulants are one of the standard therapies for ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) lacks such a drug treatment. Focusing on neurogenetic conditions with defined genetic abnormalities, which have ASD as a co-existing symptom, a search for a druggable target of ASD continues.