Schizophrenia Drug Helps Autistic Kids

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You are in Parenting & Pregnancy . Topics include:

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Schizophrenia Drug Helps Autistic Kids

Risperdal Curbs the Destructive Behavior Often Seen in Disorder

By	Salynn Boyles

WebMD Medical News

Reviewed By Charlotte Grayson, MD

July 31, 2002 -- The popular drug Risperdal, used to treat schizophrenia in adults, may also benefit children with autism. A new study shows that the drug safely and effectively treats an array of the serious behavioral problems exhibited by these children, including aggression, tantrums, and self-injury.

"That is not hyperbole. We saw big effects with this drug in terms of behavioral improvements in this subset of autistic children," lead author Lawrence Scahill, MSN, PhD, tells WebMD. "The side effects were relatively mild, and we did not see the neurological side effects associated with (older drugs)."

In a large study, autistic children treated with the drug showed significant improvements in behavior compared with children treated with placebos. Researchers say the improvement was the largest ever seen for a medication used to treat the behavioral symptoms of autism.

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Schizophrenia Drug Helps Autistic Kids