Psychotropic Drug Use in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Admitted to a Training and Research Hospital Outpatient Clinic: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Yusuf Gürel,Sadettin Burak Açıkel,Miray Çetinkaya,Rahime Duygu Temeltürk,Merve Canlı,Sabide Duygu Uygun,Ayşegül Efe,Fatma Hülya Çakmak

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1721679

Yusuf Gürel, Sadettin Burak Açıkel + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1721679

Copy DOI

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to examine demographic and clinical variables, psychiatric comorbidities, the prevalence of psychotropic drug use, relationships between drug use, demographic and clinical variables, and predictors of drug use in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) admitted to a training and research hospital outpatient clinic. Four hundred and eleven children with ASD admitted to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, between October 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and clinical variables, psychiatric comorbidities, and characteristics of drug use for the cases were recorded. Psychotropic drug use was found in 34.3% (n = 141) of the cases. Our results revealed male sex and psychiatric comorbidity as predictors of psychotropic drug use. Antipsychotics were the most prescribed drugs, and the most common psychiatric comorbidity was conduct disorder. Also, children with ASD who had been toilet-trained, and could express sentences but were illiterate, were using psychotropic drugs more often than others. Future multicentered, large clinic-based studies from training and research hospitals should focus on trends of treatment in psychiatric comorbidities accompanying ASD, and constitute a systematic approach for the psychopharmacological treatment of these cases.

Highlights

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social communication and restricted and repetitive behavior, has a prevalence of approximately 1.7% (1 in 59 children).[1]
Large clinic-based studies from training and research hospitals should focus on trends of treatment in psychiatric comorbidities accompanying ASD, and constitute a systematic approach for the psychopharmacological treatment of these cases
The demographic and clinical analysis of 411 diagnosed cases with ASD with respect to psychotropic drug use is summarized in ►Table 1

Summary

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social communication and restricted and repetitive behavior, has a prevalence of approximately 1.7% (1 in 59 children).[1] It is more common in males, and the appearance and severity of symptoms may vary as per chronological age and degree of development. The main treatment for ASD is a structured, intensive, multidisciplinary, and continuous educational intervention; no pharmacological interventions are available for its core symptoms.[2] Autism is mostly accompanied several psychiatric comorbidities including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders.[1,3] Medications are commonly used in these individuals to treat psychiatric symptoms such as hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity, irritability, aggression, mood lability, received September 10, 2020 accepted after revision October 29, 2020

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion