ADHD and Autism Medication Study
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 (23:06:11)

Posted by Sylvia

Nisonger Center

ADHD is being studied in Children with Autism and Other PDDs.

Researchers at Ohio State University have been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to look at the usefulness of two medicines in children with autism or other types of pervasive developmental disorder.

The Ohio State group are part of a network of five medical centers (Yale, U.C.L.A., Johns Hopkins, and Indiana University) doing this research. By banding together, this network is able to do larger studies in a shorter time than was previously possible.

The researchers are trying to determine whether two medicines are beneficial in reducing overactivity, impulsiveness, and distractibility. Children with these kinds of difficulties are sometimes diagnosed as having "ADHD" or "Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder."

Hyperactivity (severe overactivity, impulsiveness, and distractibility) is very often a significant problem for children with autism and related conditions, such as pervasive developmental disorder-NOS, and Asperger's disorder.

Surveys show that medicines like Ritalin and clonidine (Catapres) are often used to treat such children. However there are almost no recent studies of any size to guide this practice. The researchers at Ohio State are assessing methylphenidate (non-brand Ritalin) and a "blood pressure" medicine, called guanfacine (Tenex).

Children who have not received methylphenidate previously (or who received a trial of medicine a long time ago-more than 2 years ago) will be offered an opportunity to join a dosage study of methylphenidate.

Children who previously had an unsatisfactory experience with Ritalin (methylphenidate) or who have higher-than-average blood pressure will be offered the opportunity to join the guanfacine study. If children join the methylphenidate study and don't show reasonable benefit, they may be able to join the guanfacine study as well.

The research team, headed by Michael Aman, Ph.D., is looking for eligible children to take part. Eligibility criteria include the following. The child must be between 5 and 14 years inclusive (for the methylphenidate study), or 4years 6 months (for the guanfacine study). The child must have a form of PDD: autism, PDD-NOS, or Asperger's disorder.

The child must have significant overactivity, impulsiveness, and distractibility as perceived by the parent and teacher. In addition, the child must not be taking other behavioral medicines at the time of the study; the research team can discuss with families who are interested whether these can be discontinued.

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