ADA: Antipsychotics Change Metabolism in Kids
SAN DIEGO -- Antipsychotics appear to increase body fat and increase the risk of metabolic abnormalities in children and adolescents, researchers said here.
Those taking atypical antipsychotics for three months had significant increases in body weight and insulin resistance over baseline, John Newcomer, MD, of the University of Washington, and colleagues reported at the American Diabetes Association meeting here.
"These are changes that are associated with increased cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk," Newcomer said.
Adult studies have shown that antipsychotics increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death, and researchers have expressed concern over these outcomes in children, who are increasingly treated with these medications -- particularly for non-psychotic disorders like attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
Still, the effect of antipsychotics in children has not been well studied.
So Newcomer and colleagues conducted the Metabolic Effects of Antipsychotics in Children (MEAC) study in about 220 kids, ages 6 to 18, who were randomized to 12 weeks of either aripiprazole (Abilify), olanzapine (Zyprexa), or risperidone (Risperdal) for disruptive behavioral disorders.
None had been previously treated with antipsychotics, and the primary endpoints were effects on adiposity and insulin sensitivity.
Newcomer noted that the doses used in the study were relatively small -- "these aren't doses that would be used to treat psychiatric disorders," he said. "These are low doses used in clinical practice to achieve behavioral effects."
Most patients -- almost 60% -- were on the drugs for ADHD, and 22% were taking them for oppositional defiant disorder.
Overall, there was a significant 2.4% increase in body fat as measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans, with patients gaining a mean of 2.32 kg (5.1 lbs) over three months ( P <0.001), Newcomer said.
He noted that the greatest changes were seen in the youngest children, and the drugs appeared to have slightly different risk profiles.
"A substantial proportion of those on risperdal and aripiprazole, and all of those on olanzapine, have some increase in percent body fat," he said. "And not surprisingly, as olanzapine produced more body fat, it also produced a greater reduction in insulin sensitivity."
Still, Newcomer acknowledged that the drugs did appear to improve behavioral symptoms, showing marked improvements in behavior as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist.
Autism Behavior Checklist - News
Still, Newcomer acknowledged that the drugs did appear to improve behavioral symptoms, showing marked improvements in behavior as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. "I was not sympathetic to using antipsychotics in children at the beginning,
All participants had a diagnosis of ASD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria and the Autism Diagnostic Interview and had an Aberrant Behavior Checklist irritability (ABC-I) score greater than 16.
Early detection of developmental issues such as autism or impaired hearing is key to initiating early and effective treatment, experts said. "There's more and more evidence that starting early intervention can make a big difference in developmental
He lists all the items on the standard diagnostic checklist, developed by the psychologist Robert Hare. You can score yourself on traits like “glibness/superficial charm,” “lack of remorse or guilt,” “promiscuous sexual behavior” and 17 other traits.
A checklist that takes about five minutes for a caregiver to complete can help clinicians identify autism in very young children. The Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist is designed to be filled out
Educational Evaluation For Special Education Student With Autism ...
All students in unique education are necessary by law to have a complete evaluation every single 3 years to determine eligibility for unique education services. The following case study is about a student named “Adam”. Adam is seven years old and has autism. He is in a Special Day Class setting in a public school. The case study consists of particulars of Adam’s three-year educational evaluation.
The student in this situation study has autism. His name is Adam. Adam is seven years old. He is in a Unique Day Class for Severely Handicapped students. Adam’s 3-year evaluation necessary to be completed to establish eligibility for his special education services. Adam has an advocate and parents who’re intensely involved with his education. When the assessment strategy was presented towards the parents, they requested extra assessments such as a functional analysis, occupational therapy and an assistive technology assessment. A copy of the signed assessment plan was given to the proper specialists: psychologist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, speech therapist, nurse and unique education teacher.
The school psychologist observed Adam on a number of occasions just before administering the psycho-educational profile revised (PEP-R). The PEP-R covers a variety of developmental places. The test items are presented with straightforward, concrete instructions and most of the expected responses are nonverbal. The PEP-R supplies data on developmental functioning in imitation, perception, fine motor, gross motor, eye-hand integration, cognitive efficiency and cognitive verbal areas. The PEP-R consists of a set of toys and studying materials that were presented to Adam inside structured play activities. The psychologist recorded Adam’s responses to the test. His scores were then distributed among seven developmental and four behavioral locations. The resulting profile revealed Adam’s strengths and weaknesses in the diverse areas of development and behavior.
Adam’s portfolio was utilised as an assessment tool. Included in his portfolio had been work samples, progress reports, behavior reports, notes from parents and every day reports. The teacher sent home every day reports that included performance, compliance and prompt levels on Adam’s tasks and goals/benchmarks. His parents signed and returned the everyday reports and became portion of his portfolio. The everyday reports were used to assist within the assessment of Adam.
Autism Behavior Checklist - Bookshelf
Applied Behavior Analysis for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Assessment Tools Autism Behavior Checklist The Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC; Krug, Arick, & Almond, 1980) is among the first measures of this kind and is ...International Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Assessment Tools for ASD Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) The ABC is an informant -based checklist designed to be completed independently by a caregiver or ...Behavioural phenotypes in clinical practice
The Autism Behaviour Checklist has generated a great deal of research. The psychometric properties of the schedule warrant further investigation. ...Journal of autism and developmental disorders
After screening subjects with the Autism Behavior Checklist, subsequent evaluations with the Autism Diagnostic Interview, and direct clinical observation, ...The medical basis of psychiatry
A closer look at the Autism Behavior Checklist: discriminant validity and ... Validity of autism behavior checklist. Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria 2005 ...News Article Directory
Autism Symptoms Checklist
Online information, support and resources helping with issues pertaining to Autism Spectrum, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders (ASD & PDD) for parents and adults ...
Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) : Autism ...
For more than 40 years, the Autism Research Institute (ARI) has devoted its work to conducting research and to disseminating the results of research ...
Asperger Syndrome Checklist | LoveToKnow
The checklist is one of many tools used to evaluate behavior and ... syndrome specialist by visiting the Autism Society of America's online referral database. ...
Aspergers Checklist | LoveToKnow
A checklist can help you recognize some of the characteristics of the ... Self-stimulatory behavior: She may engage in stimming behavior such as hand flapping, ...
Behaviors | Autism Symptoms Checklist: Learn Common Symptoms ...
Children with autism tend to prefer established behavior patterns and a set environment. ... Autism Behavior Checklist. There are several behavioral signs of ...