Pharmacological Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders for the PCP - Part IV
In DSM-IV, the definition of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) was greatly expanded, encompassing less severely impaired conditions such as Asperger’s Disorder. This group of disorders has come to be termed the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ASD, including guidelines for the use of psychotropic medication for the treatment of hyperactivity, stereotypies and obsessive behaviors and more severe problems such as explosive aggression and self-injurious behavior. This program will give the primary care practitioner an overview of the use of stimulants, alpha-agonists (clonidine and guanfacine), specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) and second generation antipsychotics (SGA) for treating this wide range of symptoms. The goal of the program is for the primary care practitioner to be able to provide psychopharmacological intervention as a complement to the psychoeducational program of the child or adolescent with ASD.
Objectives
- Understand the factors hypothesized to cause Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
- Understand the types of symptoms in children with ASD that might be the focus of psychopharmacological intervention.
- Discuss the use of ADHD medications, specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), and second generation antipsychotics in the treatment of the diverse symptoms that patients with ASD can present with
To receive credit view the presentation. After the presentation has completed click on Questions for CME Credit. Fax the completed post-test and evaluation to Monica Trevino at 210-567-5677 by March 31, 2010. Credit will only be given if the form is completed and the post-test score is 70% or higher. Press the play button when you are ready to begin. Please allow 1 minute for presentation to load.
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