Aripiprazole and Autism Ranking:

Future Research

Summary of Existing Research

There is a limited amount of high quality research evidence (nine controlled and randomised controlled trials) and a reasonable amount of low quality research (17 single-case design studies with three or more participants) into the use of aripiprazole for children and young people on the autism spectrum.

This research suggests that aripiprazole may be beneficial for the treatment of behaviours such as aggression, self-injurious behaviours and sudden mood changes in some children and young people on the autism spectrum. 

There is insufficient evidence to determine if aripiprazole provides any benefits in other areas (such as social communication and social interaction) to children and adolescents on the autism spectrum.  There is insufficient evidence to determine if aripiprazole provides any benefits to adults on the autism spectrum.

There is a considerable amount of research to suggest that aripiprazole produces significant side effects in some children and young people on the autism spectrum. Those side effects may include weight gain, drowsiness and raised serum prolactin levels.  

Recommendations for Future Research

There is a need for further, large-scale, randomised, double-blind trials on the effectiveness of aripiprazole.  These studies should

• Investigate the optimal dosage and length of treatment of aripiprazole for different individuals on the autism spectrum including adults.
• Compare aripiprazole with other medications which are designed to achieve the same effects, that is, reduce behaviours such as aggression, self-injurious behaviours and sudden mood changes in people on the autism spectrum. 
• Compare aripiprazole with other types of interventions (such as behavioural programmes) which are designed to reduce these type of irritable behaviours. 
• Investigate the use of combined, multi-component programmes which use aripiprazole alongside other types of interventions (such as parent training programmes). 
• Use objective measures to monitor any potential behavioural side effects (such as reduced irritability) and metabolic side effects (such as weight gain or changes in serum prolactin) over the longer term.
• Include health-related quality of life as an outcome measure.
• Involve people on the autism spectrum and parents and carers in the design, development and evaluation of those studies.
• Be undertaken by researchers independent of the manufacturer and supplier of aripiprazole.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Jul 2018

Next Review

01 Mar 2024