Neurologic treatment strategies in autism: An overview of medical intervention strategies

• Published in: Seminars in pediatric neurology Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 229 - 235
• Main Authors: Chez, Michael G., Memon, Shoaib, Hung, Paul C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2004
• Subjects: Aggression; alternative therapies; Anxiety Disorders - drug therapy; Anxiety Disorders - etiology; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - etiology; autism treatment; Autistic Disorder - complications; Autistic Disorder - therapy; behavioral disorder; Child; Child, Preschool; cholinergic; Communication Disorders - therapy; Complementary Therapies; Depressive Disorder - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder - etiology; glutamate; Humans; language disorder; Self-Injurious Behavior - drug therapy; Self-Injurious Behavior - etiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - drug therapy; Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology; Vitamins - therapeutic use; language disorder; behavioral disorder; autism treatment; alternative therapies; glutamate; cholinergic
• ISSN: 1071-9091; 1558-0776
• DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2004.07.007

Child neurologists are likely to be caring for an increasing number of patients with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD may occur in as many as 1/100 to 1/200 births. It appears to be a multifactorial disease, with many phenotypes or subgroups. No simple treatment is currently approved for curing or managing core symptoms of autism. We rationally propose a symptom-based review of what treatments may offer relief to specific subtypes of clinical behaviors seen in autism. There is a lack of clinically based evidence on which to universally recommend a rational clinical algorithm for treatment; we suggest that rational pharmacotherapy may offer symptomatic relief to core areas of dysfunction in the autistic population. Future research into rational medical treatment options is desperately needed.