Antipsychotics and Autism Ranking:

Aims and Claims

Aims

According to Mind (2012), antipsychotics are designed to

• control anxiety and serious agitation, so that you feel less threatened
• reduce incoherent speech and muddled thinking
• reduce confusion
• lessen delusions and hallucinations
• reduce violent, disruptive behaviour
• reduce mania.

They are sometimes prescribed for anxiety, in very low doses, and to supplement antidepressants if you are severely depressed. They are also sometimes used to control agitation and psychotic experiences in dementia.

Antipsychotics are also sometimes used to treat some of the more challenging problems faced by autistic individuals including aggression, irritability, hyperactivity, self injury, and repetitive behaviour.

Claims

There have been various claims made for the use of antipsychotics as a treatment for autistic people. 

For example, according to NICE (2013), there is some evidence to suggest that risperidone and aripiprazole may be effective in reducing irritability, lethargy, stereotypic behaviour, hyperactivity, inappropriate speech and parent-defined target behaviours that challenge.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Nov 2016

Next Review

01 Mar 2023