In acute treatment , the pooled mean change score of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist for irritability subscale ( ABC-I ) and response rate for the risperidone-treated group had a greater significance than that of the placebo-treated group .
According to the discontinuation phase , the overall pooled relapse rate of the risperidone-treated group was significantly less than that of the placebo-treated group .
The rates of pooled overall discontinuation and discontinuation due to adverse events rates were not different between the two groups in acute and long-term treatments .
Conclusion In relation to the current systematic review , risperidone is efficacious in the treatment of symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD .
Although its acceptability is comparable to placebo , treatment with risperidone is well tolerated in children and adolescents with ASD
Background Various clinical trials suggested that risperidone was beneficial in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) in children and adolescents .
Objective The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy , acceptability and tolerability of risperidone in the treatment of children and adolescents with ASD .
Risperidone in Children With Autism: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study
Some open-label studies suggest that risperidone can be useful in the treatment of certain target symptoms in children with autism . We aim ed to study whether the use of risperidone in comparison with placebo improved functioning in children with autism with regard to behavior ( aggressiveness , hyperactivity , irritability ) , social and emotional responsiveness , and communication skills . We conducted a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial with 40 consecutive children with autism , whose ages ranged from 2 to 9 years , who were receiving either risperidone or placebo given orally at a dose of 1 mg/day for 6 months . Autism symptoms were monitored periodically . The outcome variables were total scores on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale ( CARS ) and the Children 's Global Assessment Scale ( CGAS ) after 6 months . Of the 40 children enrolled , 39 completed the trial over a period of 18 months ; 19 received risperidone , and 20 received placebo . In the risperidone group , 12 of 19 children showed improvement in the total Childhood Autism Rating Scale score and 17 of 19 children in the Children 's Global Assessment Scale score compared with 0 of 20 children for the Childhood Autism Rating Scale score and 2 of 20 children for the Children 's Global Assessment Scale score in the placebo group ( P < .001 and P = .035 , respectively ) . Risperidone also improved social responsiveness and nonverbal communication and reduced the symptoms of hyperactivity and aggression .  Risperidone was associated with increased appetite and a mild weight gain , mild sedation in 20 % , and transient dyskinesias in three children . Risperidone improved global functioning and social responsiveness while reducing hyperactivity and aggression in children with autism and was well tolerated . ( J Child Neurol 2006;21:450—455 ; DOI 10.2310/7010.2006.00099 )
In acute treatment , the pooled mean change score of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist for irritability subscale ( ABC-I ) and response rate for the risperidone-treated group had a greater significance than that of the placebo-treated group .
According to the discontinuation phase , the overall pooled relapse rate of the risperidone-treated group was significantly less than that of the placebo-treated group .
The rates of pooled overall discontinuation and discontinuation due to adverse events rates were not different between the two groups in acute and long-term treatments .
Conclusion In relation to the current systematic review , risperidone is efficacious in the treatment of symptoms in children and adolescents with ASD .
Although its acceptability is comparable to placebo , treatment with risperidone is well tolerated in children and adolescents with ASD
Background Various clinical trials suggested that risperidone was beneficial in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) in children and adolescents .
Objective The aim of this systematic review was to determine the efficacy , acceptability and tolerability of risperidone in the treatment of children and adolescents with ASD .