AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence of effect of SSRIs in children and emerging evidence of harm .
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) are characterised by abnormalities in social interaction and communication skills , as well as stereotypic behaviours and restricted activities and interests .
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) are prescribed for the treatment of conditions often comorbid with ASD such as depression , anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviours .
OBJECTIVES To determine if treatment with an SSRI:1 .
improves the core features of autism ( social interaction , communication and behavioural problems);2 .
improves other non-core aspects of behaviour or function such as self-injurious behaviour;3 .
improves the quality of life of adults or children and their carers;4 .
has short- and long-term effects on outcome ; 5 .
causes harm .
A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of fluoxetine for repetitive behaviors and global severity in adult autism spectrum disorders.
OBJECTIVE The effects of fluoxetine and placebo on repetitive behaviors and global severity were compared in adults with autism spectrum disorders ( ASDs ) . METHOD Adults with ASDs were enrolled in a 12-week double-blind placebo-controlled fluoxetine trial . Thirty-seven were r and omly assigned to fluoxetine ( N=22 ) or placebo ( N=15 ) . Dosage followed a fixed schedule , starting at 10 mg/day and increasing as tolerated up to 80 mg/day . Repetitive behaviors were measured with the compulsion subscale of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale ; the Clinical Global Impression ( CGI ) improvement scale was used to rate improvement in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and overall severity . RESULTS There was a significant treatment-by-time interaction indicating a significantly greater reduction in repetitive behaviors across time for fluoxetine than for placebo . With overall response defined as a CGI global improvement score of 2 or less , there were significantly more responders at week 12 in the fluoxetine group than in the placebo group . The risk ratio was 1.5 for CGI global improvement ( responders : fluoxetine , 35 % ; placebo , 0 % ) and 1.8 for CGI-rated improvement in obsessive-compulsive symptoms ( responders : fluoxetine , 50 % ; placebo , 8 % ) . Only mild and moderate side effects were observed . CONCLUSIONS Fluoxetine treatment , compared to placebo , result ed in significantly greater improvement in repetitive behaviors , according to both the Yale-Brown compulsion subscale and CGI rating of obsessive-compulsive symptoms , as well as on the CGI overall improvement rating .  Fluoxetine appeared to be well tolerated . These findings st and in contrast to findings in a trial of citalopram for childhood autism
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence of effect of SSRIs in children and emerging evidence of harm .
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) are characterised by abnormalities in social interaction and communication skills , as well as stereotypic behaviours and restricted activities and interests .
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) are prescribed for the treatment of conditions often comorbid with ASD such as depression , anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviours .
OBJECTIVES To determine if treatment with an SSRI:1 .
improves the core features of autism ( social interaction , communication and behavioural problems);2 .
improves other non-core aspects of behaviour or function such as self-injurious behaviour;3 .
improves the quality of life of adults or children and their carers;4 .
has short- and long-term effects on outcome ; 5 .
causes harm .