Effectiveness and Adverse Effects of Risperidone in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Naturalistic Clinical Setting at a University Hospital in Oman.

Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi,Miad Al-Balushi,Salam Salloum-Asfar,Amira Al-Hosni,Salim Al-Huseini,Ali Al-Barhoumi,Balqees Al-Mahrizi,Sanjay Jaju,Hassan Mirza

doi:10.1155/2022/2313851

Abstract

Objective This study aimed at examining the effectiveness of treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who present with irritability, aggression, and disruptive behavior at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman, with risperidone, and to note any sex-based differences among this cohort. Method This was a retrospective study conducted at the Department of Behavioral Medicine at SQUH over two years from January 2017 to December 2018. This study included all children aged 3 to 18 years attending the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) outpatient clinic with a diagnosis of ASD, based on the DSM-5 criteria, and comorbid disruptive behavior, who had been prescribed risperidone. Result This study identified 95 ASD patients (72 males). Male patients' BMI score after 12 months of risperidone treatment showed an increase by 0.62 (1.57 SD; P=0.001); however, there was no significant change among female patients. Somnolence was noted in 69.6% of female patients as compared to 34.7% of males (P=0.003). Among those with a family history of ASD, 5 out of 17 patients had treatment success (29.4%), whereas 70 out of 78 patients (90.0%) who did not have a similar history had successful treatment. Conclusion In conclusion, low-dose risperidone monotherapy is effective and well tolerated among some children with ASD who present with disruptive behavior in a naturalistic clinical setting. However, we found that some of the side effects, such as weight gain and somnolence, were concerning.

Highlights

Among children with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who have undergone a minimum of one year of treatment with risperidone, we aim at examining the association of effectiveness of treatment, as well as the association of other factors, by sex in children with ASD who present with irritability, aggression, and disruptive behavior at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman
Results is study identified 95 patients with ASD (72 males and 23 females) from those who presented during the study period and who had at least one year of follow-up after being initiated on risperidone treatment
With regard to the side effects associated with risperidone use, weight gain and somnolence were the most reported. ere are a plethora of studies that have concluded that weight gain and subsequent metabolic consequences are a side effect of risperidone monotherapy in children with ASD [18, 38, 39]. e results from the current study showed that there was an increase in the body mass index (BMI) after 12 months of Effectiveness of treatment

Summary

Research Article

Salim Al-Huseini ,1 Ali Al-Barhoumi, Miad Al-Balushi, Amira Al-Hosni, Tamadhir Al-Mahrouqi, Balqees Al-Mahrizi, Sanjay Jaju, and Hassan Mirza 3. Is study aimed at examining the effectiveness of treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who present with irritability, aggression, and disruptive behavior at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman, with risperidone, and to note any sex-based differences among this cohort. Somnolence was noted in 69.6% of female patients as compared to 34.7% of males (P 0.003). Among those with a family history of ASD, 5 out of 17 patients had treatment success (29.4%), whereas 70 out of 78 patients (90.0%) who did not have a similar history had successful treatment. Low-dose risperidone monotherapy is effective and well tolerated among some children with ASD who present with disruptive behavior in a naturalistic clinical setting. We found that some of the side effects, such as weight gain and somnolence, were concerning

Introduction

Extra pyramidal symptoms

Weight gain

Conclusion