ERIC Number: EJ1470844
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3432
Available Date: 2023-09-26
Patterns in Medication Use for Treatment of Depression in Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Riley A. Argonis1; Ernest V. Pedapati1,2; Kelli C. Dominick1,2; Katherine Harris1,2; Martine Lamy1,2; Cara Fosdick1,2; Lauren Schmitt3,4; Rebecca C. Shaffer4,5; Elizabeth Smith4,5; Meredith Will4,5; Christopher J. McDougle6,7,8; Craig A. Erickson1,2
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v55 n6 p1969-1975 2025
Introduction: Depression impacts many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), carrying increased risk of functional impairment, hospitalization, and suicide. Prescribing medication to target depression in patients with ASD occurs despite limited available systematic data describing medication management of depression in this population. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to discover prescribing patterns for individuals with MDD and ASD during this time period (2004-2012) to inform current and future prescribing practices with historical data. Methods: Drawing from a large clinical database describing the prescribing practices in patients with ASD, we identified 166 individuals with ASD (mean age 14.5 ± 8.3 years old) who received medication targeting symptoms of depression. We report prescribing rates for specific drugs, drug treatment duration, and reasons for drug discontinuation when applicable. Results: Sertraline, mirtazapine, and fluoxetine were the three most commonly prescribed medications to treat comorbid depression for this patient population. Among 241 drug starts, 123 (49%) drug treatments were continued at the final reviewed follow-up visit (average treatment duration of ± 0.72 years). The most common reason for discontinuation across all medications prescribed was loss of or lack of effectiveness. Conclusion: This study raises concern that standard of care pharmacological treatments for depression in individuals with ASD may be less effective than in neurotypical populations. There remains a need to develop effective interventions for depression specifically tailored to the needs of individuals with ASD.
Descriptors: Drug Therapy, Depression (Psychology), Autism Spectrum Disorders, Patients, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Comorbidity, Program Termination, Program Effectiveness, Intervention
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cincinnati, USA; 2University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Cincinnati, USA; 3Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati, USA; 4University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati, USA; 5Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati, USA; 6Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA; 7Lurie Center for Autism, Lexington, USA; 8Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, USA