Evidence-Based Psychopharmacologic Interventions for Problem Behaviors in ASD Children Under the Age of Five

In 2007 the Centers for Disease Control, found that autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder and pervasive development mental disorder NOS, (referred to collectively as autism spectrum disorders, or ASD), had prevalence rates in the United States of 1:150 children with a male to female ratio of 4.3:1 (Floyd & McIntosh, 2009). These authors note that the incidence of these diagnoses has increased significantly since the 1980's. There is no conclusive explanation for the increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in children. One theory suggests that changes in diagnostic criteria after 1990 more accurately detected children with very mild forms of the disorders, as well as those severely affected, who previously would have been categorized simply as mentally retarded (Mash & Barkley, 2006). Currently, the FDA has approved only Risperidal and Abilify for the treatment of ASD-associated irritability, tantruming, self-injury, and aggression; however, these medications are only approved for children five and older or six and older respectively. Most research specifically targets children over the age of five, and only infrequently involves children age four and under. In short, no evidence-based practice protocols for psychopharmacologic treatment of children with ASD under the age of five exist.