Aripiprazole and Autism Ranking:

Aims and Claims

Aims

According to Stigler et al (2009)

“Aripiprazole is hypothesized to function as an agonist or antagonist, depending on the receptor population and local concentrations of DA.”

In other words aripiprazole is a dopamine system stabiliser i.e. where dopamine levels are high it acts as an antagonist (reducing the levels of dopamine) and where dopamine levels are low it acts as an agonist (increasing the levels of dopamine). 

Some people believe that aripiprazole can be used to change the levels of dopamine in the central nervous system of individuals on the autism spectrum. They believe that this will have beneficial effects, including a reduction in hyperactivity, aggression, and repetitive behaviours.

Claims 

There have been various claims made for the use of aripiprazole as a treatment for people on the autism spectrum. For example, 

• Numerous authors (such as Blankenship et al, 2010; Douglas-Hall et al, 2011; and Farmer and Aman, 2011) have reported that aripiprazole is safe and effective in treating irritability (defined as tantrums, aggression, self-injurious behaviour, or a combination of these symptoms) in children and adolescents on the autism spectrum.
• Ching and Pringsheim (2012) reported that some researchers have reported improvements in social interaction and stereotypic behaviours, alongside reductions in anxiety, depression, aggression, hyperactivity, irritability, mood fluctuations, obsessive behaviours, psychotic symptoms, self-injurious behaviour, tantrums and tics. 

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Jul 2018

Next Review

01 Mar 2024