Antipsychotics and Autism Ranking:

Future Research

Summary of Existing Research

There is very strong research evidence to suggest that some atypical antipsychotics (such as aripiprazole and risperidone) may be beneficial for the treatment of aggression, irritability, hyperactivity, self injury, and repetitive behaviour in some autistic children and adults.

There is very little high quality research evidence on the effectiveness of most other antipsychotics as a treatment for autistic people.

There is evidence of significant side effects of some antipsychotics in some autistic children/adults. Those side effects may include weight gain, hyperprolactinaemia (raised prolactin levels) and tachycardia (abnormally fast heart rate).

Recommendations for Future Research

Future research should

• Compare different antipsychotics with each other to determine which is most effective for the treatment of which issues in which autistic individuals. 
• Investigate the optimal dosage and length of treatment for different autistic individuals.
• Investigate the long-term effects of antipsychotics in autistic children and young people and adults ensuring that any side effects are monitored carefully.

Further research is also required to fully evaluate the role of antipsychotics in managing challenging behaviour in autistic people. Such research should include comparative studies to determine which antipsychotics are most effective for the treatment of which issues and in which autistic individuals.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Nov 2016

Next Review

01 Mar 2023