Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Evidence Table. Therapies for children with ASD
Study
Inclusion/Exclusion Baseline
Description Intervention
Criteria/Population Measures Outcomes
Author:
Intervention:
Inclusion criteria: Overall ratings: Overall ratings:
Akhondzadeh et Cyproheptadine titrated • Ages 3-11 years CARS score, mean: CARS score,
al., 2004 up to 0.05 mg/kg/day plus • DSM-IV clinical G1: NR*
week 8, mean
Country: haloperidol titrated up to diagnosis of autism, G2: NR*
change ± SD:
Iran
0.2 mg/kg/day
confirmed by two child G1/G2: P = 0.76 G1: -1.85 ± 2.08
Practice All patients received psychiatrists
Problem behavior: G2: -0.37 ± 0.48
setting:
biperiden at 0.04 • Outpatients from a ABC-C score, mean: G1+G2/BL: P =
Academic mg/kg/day as a
specialty clinic for G1: NR*
0.003
Intervention prophylaxis against children at Roozbeh G2: NR*
G1/G2: P = 0.004
setting:
extrapyramidal symptoms Psychiatric Teaching G1/G2: P = 0.42 ANOVA: time (P <
Clinic
Duration: 8 weeks
Hospital
0.0001), treatment
Enrollment Assessments:
• Chief complaint of
(P = 0.045), time
period:
ABC-C, CARS, extra- severely disruptive
x treatment (P =
January 2002 to pyramidal symptoms all symptoms related to
0.004)
January 2003 assessed by third year autistic disorder
Problem
Funding: psychiatry resident at Exclusion criteria:
behavior:
NR
baseline, 2, 4, 6 and 8 • Previously received
ABC-C score,
Author industry weeks after the start of neuroleptics
week 8, mean
relationship medication
• Receiving any
change ± SD:
disclosures: Groups:
psychotropic drug
G1: 10.90 ± 7.19
NR
G1: cyproheptadine plus
treatment 6 months prior
G2: 3.70 ± 7.16
Design: haloperidol
to recruitment
G1+G2/BL: P =
RCT, double-blind G2: placebo plus
• Significant active
0.003
placebo controlled haloperidol
medical problem
G1/G2: P = 0.006
Co-interventions held
Age, years (SE) (range):
ANOVA: time (P <
stable during treatment:
G1: 6.40 (0.48) (3-11)
0.0001), treatment
NR
G2: 6.90 (0.42) (3-11)
(P = 0.048), time
Frequency of contact
Mental age:
x treatment (P =
during study:
NR
0.002)
Baseline and every two
Gender, n (%):
Harms:
weeks
Male:
Extrapyramidal
Concomitant therapies:
G1: 13 (65)
symptoms:
NR
G2: 11 (55)
G1: 2
N at enrollment:
G2: 6
Female:
G1: 20
G1: 7 (35)
G1/G2: P = 0.23
G2: 20
G2: 9 (45)
Side effects, n:**
N at follow-up:
Race/ethnicity:
Trouble
G1: 20
NR
swallowing:
G2: 20
SES:
G1: 2
Maternal education: NR
G2: 4
Household income: NR
Stiffness:
Diagnostic approach:
G1: 1
In-study
G2: 3
Diagnostic tool/method:
Constipation:
DSM-IV
G1: 4
Diagnostic category, n
G2: 2
(%):
Diarrhea:
Autism: 40 (100)
G1: 2
G2: 3
Daytime
drowsiness:
G1: 1
G2: 2
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