A longitudinal investigation of psychotropic and non-psychotropic medication use among adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders

J Autism Dev Disord. 2009 Sep;39(9):1339-49. doi: 10.1007/s10803-009-0750-3. Epub 2009 May 12.

Abstract

Medication use was examined in 286 adolescents and adults with ASD over a 4.5 year period. A total of 70% were taking a psychotropic or non-psychotropic medication at the beginning of the study. Both the number of psychotropic and non-psychotropic medications taken, and the proportion of individuals taking these medications, increased significantly over the study period, with 81% taking at least one medication 4.5 years later. Our findings suggested a high likelihood of staying medicated over time. Thus, adolescents and adults with ASD are a highly and increasingly medicated population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Asperger Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Asperger Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Autistic Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Autistic Disorder / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / drug therapy*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data
  • Drug Utilization / trends
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Massachusetts
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use*
  • Wisconsin
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Psychotropic Drugs