Psychotropic Medication Monitoring in a Human Services Organization for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder:...

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Child Psychiatry
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Psychotropic medication is common for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Current pharmacotherapy lacks objective measures for treatment effectiveness and combined pharmacological-behavioral interventions.
• Clinical judgment often guides medication management without standardized evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an interdisciplinary review team (IRT) model for standardized psychotropic medication monitoring in children with ASD.
• To enhance the efficacy of pharmacological and behavioral interventions through a structured review process.
• To promote data-driven decision-making in medication management for pediatric ASD.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an interdisciplinary review team (IRT) involving medical, nursing, behavior analyst, and special education professionals.
• Inclusion of parent-guardian participation in the review process.
• Utilization of data-driven decision-making and social validity assessments.
• Case illustrations of medication reduction-elimination trials for five students.

Main Results:

• The IRT model facilitated coordinated professional involvement and parent-guardian engagement.
• Data-driven decision-making was central to the medication monitoring process.
• Social validity assessments indicated positive perceptions of the IRT among clinicians, nurses, and parent-guardians.
• Case studies demonstrated successful medication reduction-elimination trials.

Conclusions:

• The IRT model offers a standardized, collaborative approach to psychotropic medication management for children with ASD.
• Integrating objective measures and interdisciplinary input enhances treatment effectiveness.
• The model supports evidence-based practice and provides a framework for future research and clinical recommendations.