Easing Autistic Aggression

BALTIMORE (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- April is National Autism Awareness Month. The most recent numbers show as many as one in 500 people have autism -- a lifelong disorder marked by a deficiency in social interaction and communication. Aggression and behavioral disturbances are often seen in children with the disorder, but a new treatment may have just made life a little easier.

Not long ago, this fun-loving family was consumed by fear. Emily Himmelfarb says, "It's been tough. It's been really tough."

Her son Michael has autism. He doesn't talk, and until recently, his aggressive, and sometimes violent, behavior posed a threat to him, his sister and his parents.

"He would bite. He would scratch. He would run away," Michael's father, Andrew, tells Ivanhoe. Emily says, "It would be basically like hitting and pulling hair."

That aggressive behavior isn't uncommon in children with autism, and successfully treating it hasn't been easy, but pediatric psychiatrist Elaine Tierney, M.D., offered the Himmelfarbs a drug that seems to work.

"We were treating children who had autism and who had either self-injury, aggression, or tantrums and a lot of irritability," says Dr. Tierney, of Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.

In a recent study, children were given the anti-psychotic drug risperidone or a placebo. Nearly 70 percent were much or very much improved after eight weeks compared to just 12 percent in the placebo group. "It was highly significant," says Dr. Tierney.

It worked for Michael.

"When he started the stuff, it was a big difference, tremendous difference," says Andrew. He's no longer biting or scratching, and it's eased his aggression.

Today, no words are needed to describe the love this family has for one another. Andrew says, "I will not give up. I never will give up. How can I? He's my child. You just don't give up on your child."

The drug is FDA approved for other disorders so it can be prescribed by any doctor as an off-label use. There are side effects, which include weight gain, drooling and fatigue. In many children, those side effects will decrease over time.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Kennedy Krieger Institute
707 North Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21205
(888) 554-2080
http://www.kennedykrieger.org