A British study
suggests risperidone, a drug used to control schizophrenic symptoms, might
help treat problems found in autism spectrum disorder.
The researchers
reviewed three randomized, placebo-controlled studies of risperidone (Risperdal)
involving 211 participants, including 31 adults.
"(We found)
risperidone may be beneficial for various aspects of autism, including
irritability, repetition and hyperactivity," said Dr. Ora Jesner of the
University of Bristol, the study's leader. However, Jesner noted, the
drug's benefits might be offset by its side effects, among which weight
gain is most prominent.
Often diagnosed
within the first three years of life, autism spectrum disorder leads to
difficulties with social relationships, language and communication skills.
Symptoms include
withdrawal from social interactions, irritability, problems communicating
and repetitive behaviors.
The U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention says as many as 1.5 million people in
the United States might have some form of the disorder.
The review by
Jesner and co-author Mehrnoosh Aref-Adib appears in the latest issue of
The Cochrane Library.
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