Using Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Topics: ADHD | Anxiety Disorder | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Equine Assisted Psychotherapy | Equine therapy | Free Articles | PTSD | Trauma

  Sylvia is 7 years old, referred for long-standing school refusal after CBT proved ineffective. You confer with her therapist about trying a different approach. When patients are not amenable to usual therapy, equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) might be a good option. In this article we’ll talk about working with horses as an alternative

Does Prozac Treat Repetitive and Stereotypical Behaviors in Children With Autism?

Topics: Autism | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Fluoxetine | Perseveration | Perseverative Behavior | Prozac | Repetitive Behavior | SSRIs | Stereotypical Behavior

Review of: Reddihough DS et al, JAMA 2019;322(16):1561–1569 Restrictive, repetitive, and stereotypical behaviors in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are a common concern, and there are no FDA-approved medications for their treatment. We know that fluoxetine is effective in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder i

Exploring the Potential Neurotoxicity of Antipsychotics in Younger Populations

Topics: Antipsychotics | Autism | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Neurotoxicity

At Carlat, we bang the drum of caution about antipsychotic use in children and adolescents. In this article, we pair rising concerns about antipsychotic neurotoxicity with the lack of efficacy evidence for off-label usage. Labeled use It is important to treat psychosis. A recent review by Goff and colleagues shows better outcomes for people who rece

Managing Irritability in Autism

Topics: Autism | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Irritability | Symptom Assessment | Symptom Management

CCPR: Please tell us a little about the work you do. Dr. Brookman-Frazee: Most of my research is focused on children who have mental health needs, including those on the autism spectrum. I’m focused on ensuring that children, in community services and routine care, have access to evidence-based mental health practices. The “laboratory” of much of

Engage Those Infants: Maternal Interaction and Autism

Topics: Autism | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Connect | Connection | Dysregulation | Engagement

REVIEW OF: Schwichtenberg AJ et al, Autism 2019;23(4):821–833 Mother-infant interactions are a cornerstone of early development, supporting social and language development of children with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Research on the impact of maternal behaviors on these interactions offers helpful guidance in clinical work with infants

Weight Gain From Aripiprazole Same as Risperidone

Topics: Antipsychotics | Aripiprazole | Autism | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Risperidone | Weight gain

Review of: Schoemakers RJ et al, J Child Adolesc Psychopharm 2019;29(3):192–196 Many providers prefer aripiprazole over risperidone for young patients due to observed lower incidence of weight gain. This is supported in studies with follow-up of less than 3 months. However, does aripiprazole fare better with long-term use? Researchers reviewed r

Genetic Testing: What You Need to Know in 2021

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | CYP2C19 | CYP2D6 | GeneSight | Genetic Testing | Genetics and Psychiatry | Laboratory Testing in Psychiatry | Learning & Developmental Disabilities | Pharmacogenomics | Treatment-Resistant Depression | Whole Genome Sequencing

TCPR: Is there a role for genetic testing in clinical practice? Dr. Nurnberger: I think the evidence is growing that there’s a place for this in clinical practice. The meta-analyses of pharmacogenetic tests are actually looking pretty favorable recently, at least for some genes, particularly CYP2D6 and 2C19 (Bousman CA et al, Pharmacogenomics 2019;20

Micronutrients in Mental Health

Topics: Alternative treatments | Autism | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Complementary treatments | Dysregulation | Natural Medications | natural treatments | Nutrition

TCPR: You’ve studied micronutrients in ADHD and other psychiatric disorders. What are micronutrients?Dr. Rucklidge: They are small nutrients—vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—that are essential for your brain to function optimally. They include cofactors like B6, zinc, and magnesium that are involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and h

Note From the Editor-in-Chief

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry

Welcome to the autism issue! We interviewed Dr. Serena Wieder on evidence-based developmental approaches for kids with ASD, ones that bring the humanity back into autism treatment by returning our focus to the nurturing relationships between parents and children, building on children’s ideas to improve communication and learning. These belong at the t

Prescribing Antipsychotics in Aggressive Children With ADHD

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry

It’s a vexing question: At what point do you consider prescribing antipsychotics for aggressive children? The potential side effects—weight gain, sedation, possible movement side effects, and metabolic abnormalities—encourage us to think long and hard about this, and there are few good evidence-based guidelines. The recent Treatment of Severe C

Including Parents in Autism Intervention

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Practice Tools and Tips

CCPR: Can you begin by telling us what is unique about the Profectum Foundation? Dr. Wieder: At Profectum, relationships are the driving force of intervention. We embraced the DIR (Developmental, Individual Difference, and Relationship-based) Model I developed with the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan. DIR was revolutionary. It redefined functional emotional

Simvastatin as Adjunctive Therapy for Irritability in Autism

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Research Update

Review of: Moazen-Zadeh E et al, J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2018;28(1):82–89. Disorders of lipid metabolism—specifically inefficient metabolism of lipids—have been implicated as part of the metabolic complexity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Research points to the neuroprotective effects of simvastatin over other statins, due t

Understanding Tantrums in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Research Update

Review of: Mayes S et al, J Dev Phys Disabil 2017;29(4):587–596 Why do children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have tantrums? One theory is that these tantrums are due in part to children’s frustration with not being able to express themselves. This theory has led to a treatment approach called “mand training.” A mand is a verbal request

Take The CME Post-Test for ADHD in Children and Adolescents, CCPR, September/October 2017

Topics: ADHD | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Research Update

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers only (October 31, 2018). By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 2 CME credits. Click here to take your CME test. Note: All of the CME tests are available in the “My Account” section of the site when you are logge

Is Minocycline Effective When Added to Risperidone for Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Research Update

Review of: Ghaleiha A et al, J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2016;26(9): 784–791. The only medication treatments approved for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are the antipsychotics risperidone and aripiprazole, which are indicated specifically to manage irritability associated with ASD. There’s been some interest in minocycline, which is a second-

From Infantile Autism to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | DSM | Free Articles

Changes in diagnostic criteria not only affect the clinical and public perception of a disorder, but also its perceived prevalence. Such is the case with autism. The evolution of the autism diagnosis since it was introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in 1980 inarguably has altered its reported prevalence, rising from an estimated 1

Evolution of the Autism Diagnosis

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | DSM

CCPR: Where did autism arise, and how do we understand its evolution over the last 50 years? Dr. Volkmar: The history of autism goes back many years. There is a small literature suggesting that some of the reports of so-called “feral children” in Europe starting in the very late 1700s/early 1800s, eg, Victor, the Wild Boy of Aveyron by Itard, may

Take The CME Post-Test for Autism in Children and Adolescents, CCPR, January/February 2017

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | DSM

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers only (December 31, 2017). By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 2 CME credits. Click here to take your CME test. Note: All of the CME tests are available in the “My Account” section of the site when you are logg

Metformin Use in Autistic Children Taking Atypical Antipsychotics

Topics: Antipsychotics | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Research Updates

Review of: Anagnostou E, Aman MG, Handen BL, et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2016;73:928–937. STUDY TYPE: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial Atypical antipsychotics are commonly used to reduce irritability and agitation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although effective, these medications lead to weight gain

Metformin Use in Autistic Children Taking Atypical Antipsychotics

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Research Update

Review of: Anagnostou E, Aman MG, Handen BL, et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2016;73:928–937. STUDY TYPE: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial Atypical antipsychotics are commonly used to reduce irritability and agitation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although effective, these medications lead to weight gain and