Antidepressant Drug Celexa Not Effective in Treating Autism

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/child-health/antidepressant-drug-celexa-not-effective-treating-autism-3236.html

Antidepressant Drug Celexa Not Effective in Treating Autism

By: Hajek

Published: Thursday, 4 June 2009

Research

scientists, constantly on the lookout for possible treatments for

autism have struck out again with Celexa, an antidepressant that had

promise in treating symptoms such as repetitive motions. A recent study

proved the drug no more effective than a placebo treatment. With a

growing number of children across the U.S. being diagnosed with autism

each year, doctors and scientists are on a mission to gain more

knowledge about the condition, as well as exploring anything that might

resemble a treatment option. In this case, the researchers actually

reached a result that wasn’t expected, with the drug not proving to be

any more affective than a placebo treatment for the condition.

To

date, there has only been one medication, risperidone (an antipsychotic

drug), approved by the FDA to treat irritability and aggression usually

seen in children with autism. With approximately 1.5 million Americans

with autism, a disorder which is signaled by problems with

communication and social interaction and limited proven drug

treatments, many doctors are looking to drugs used to treat other

conditions, such as those used to treat obsessive compulsive or

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Results from the nationwide

trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the

June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry,

demonstrates a drug once thought to show promise, may not be so

effective for the autistic community.

The

team of researchers led by H. King, M.D., director of child and

adolescent psychiatry at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital and professor

and vice-chairman of psychiatry at the University of Washington School

of Medicine, evaluated 149 children who were being treated at six

academic medical centers across the U.S., ranging in ages from 5 to 17

and were all diagnosed with autism or related disorders from April 2004

to October 2006. The children were divided into two random groups and

given either a placebo or a daily dose of Celexa.

Dr. King

said the researchers had been expecting to prove the value of the drug

in treating autism. However, when evaluating the results, the team

found that 32.9 percent who took Celexa and 34.2 percent of those who

took the placebo actually showed fewer side effects of autism or less

severe repetitive symptoms, and those children given the Celexa

actually had more side effects from the drug, such as hyperactivity,

impulsiveness, decreased concentration, repetitive movements, and sleep

problems. It seems children with autism do better during studies

because of the attention they receive, which may explain the good

results from the placebo treatment. The researchers explained that

without the placebo comparison they may have thought the 32.9 percent

reduction in symptoms was a pretty good result.

According to

Dr. King, “We didn’t expect it to work for everyone, but we were hoping

that we’d be able to drill down into the population for whom it was

very helpful and begin to identify the predictor of what a positive

response would be.” The results raise questions as to the effects of

similar antidepressants. However, a Baltimore autism specialist said he

has treated children with autism from the ages of 3-5 with smaller

dosages of Celexa and was successful. According to Dr. Lawrence

Scahill, a study author and professor of child psychiatry and nursing

at the Child Study Center at Yale University, “Clinicians should be

very careful about what they’re targeting if they’re using

medications.” He said antidepressants may be useful in treating

children with autism for depression or anxiety, as they are in children

without autism, but, “if you are targeting for repetitive behaviors,

this medication does not appear to be effective.”

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/child-health/antidepressant-drug-celexa-not-effective-treating-autism-3236.html

Antidepressant Drug Celexa Not Effective in Treating Autism

By: Hajek

Published: Thursday, 4 June 2009

Research

scientists, constantly on the lookout for possible treatments for

autism have struck out again with Celexa, an antidepressant that had

promise in treating symptoms such as repetitive motions. A recent study

proved the drug no more effective than a placebo treatment. With a

growing number of children across the U.S. being diagnosed with autism

each year, doctors and scientists are on a mission to gain more

knowledge about the condition, as well as exploring anything that might

resemble a treatment option. In this case, the researchers actually

reached a result that wasn’t expected, with the drug not proving to be

any more affective than a placebo treatment for the condition.

To

date, there has only been one medication, risperidone (an antipsychotic

drug), approved by the FDA to treat irritability and aggression usually

seen in children with autism. With approximately 1.5 million Americans

with autism, a disorder which is signaled by problems with

communication and social interaction and limited proven drug

treatments, many doctors are looking to drugs used to treat other

conditions, such as those used to treat obsessive compulsive or

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Results from the nationwide

trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the

June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry,

demonstrates a drug once thought to show promise, may not be so

effective for the autistic community.

The

team of researchers led by H. King, M.D., director of child and

adolescent psychiatry at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital and professor

and vice-chairman of psychiatry at the University of Washington School

of Medicine, evaluated 149 children who were being treated at six

academic medical centers across the U.S., ranging in ages from 5 to 17

and were all diagnosed with autism or related disorders from April 2004

to October 2006. The children were divided into two random groups and

given either a placebo or a daily dose of Celexa.

Dr. King

said the researchers had been expecting to prove the value of the drug

in treating autism. However, when evaluating the results, the team

found that 32.9 percent who took Celexa and 34.2 percent of those who

took the placebo actually showed fewer side effects of autism or less

severe repetitive symptoms, and those children given the Celexa

actually had more side effects from the drug, such as hyperactivity,

impulsiveness, decreased concentration, repetitive movements, and sleep

problems. It seems children with autism do better during studies

because of the attention they receive, which may explain the good

results from the placebo treatment. The researchers explained that

without the placebo comparison they may have thought the 32.9 percent

reduction in symptoms was a pretty good result.

According to

Dr. King, “We didn’t expect it to work for everyone, but we were hoping

that we’d be able to drill down into the population for whom it was

very helpful and begin to identify the predictor of what a positive

response would be.” The results raise questions as to the effects of

similar antidepressants. However, a Baltimore autism specialist said he

has treated children with autism from the ages of 3-5 with smaller

dosages of Celexa and was successful. According to Dr. Lawrence

Scahill, a study author and professor of child psychiatry and nursing

at the Child Study Center at Yale University, “Clinicians should be

very careful about what they’re targeting if they’re using

medications.” He said antidepressants may be useful in treating

children with autism for depression or anxiety, as they are in children

without autism, but, “if you are targeting for repetitive behaviors,

this medication does not appear to be effective.”

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/child-health/antidepressant-drug-celexa-not-effective-treating-autism-3236.html

Antidepressant Drug Celexa Not Effective in Treating Autism

By: Hajek

Published: Thursday, 4 June 2009

Research

scientists, constantly on the lookout for possible treatments for

autism have struck out again with Celexa, an antidepressant that had

promise in treating symptoms such as repetitive motions. A recent study

proved the drug no more effective than a placebo treatment. With a

growing number of children across the U.S. being diagnosed with autism

each year, doctors and scientists are on a mission to gain more

knowledge about the condition, as well as exploring anything that might

resemble a treatment option. In this case, the researchers actually

reached a result that wasn’t expected, with the drug not proving to be

any more affective than a placebo treatment for the condition.

To

date, there has only been one medication, risperidone (an antipsychotic

drug), approved by the FDA to treat irritability and aggression usually

seen in children with autism. With approximately 1.5 million Americans

with autism, a disorder which is signaled by problems with

communication and social interaction and limited proven drug

treatments, many doctors are looking to drugs used to treat other

conditions, such as those used to treat obsessive compulsive or

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Results from the nationwide

trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the

June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry,

demonstrates a drug once thought to show promise, may not be so

effective for the autistic community.

The

team of researchers led by H. King, M.D., director of child and

adolescent psychiatry at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital and professor

and vice-chairman of psychiatry at the University of Washington School

of Medicine, evaluated 149 children who were being treated at six

academic medical centers across the U.S., ranging in ages from 5 to 17

and were all diagnosed with autism or related disorders from April 2004

to October 2006. The children were divided into two random groups and

given either a placebo or a daily dose of Celexa.

Dr. King

said the researchers had been expecting to prove the value of the drug

in treating autism. However, when evaluating the results, the team

found that 32.9 percent who took Celexa and 34.2 percent of those who

took the placebo actually showed fewer side effects of autism or less

severe repetitive symptoms, and those children given the Celexa

actually had more side effects from the drug, such as hyperactivity,

impulsiveness, decreased concentration, repetitive movements, and sleep

problems. It seems children with autism do better during studies

because of the attention they receive, which may explain the good

results from the placebo treatment. The researchers explained that

without the placebo comparison they may have thought the 32.9 percent

reduction in symptoms was a pretty good result.

According to

Dr. King, “We didn’t expect it to work for everyone, but we were hoping

that we’d be able to drill down into the population for whom it was

very helpful and begin to identify the predictor of what a positive

response would be.” The results raise questions as to the effects of

similar antidepressants. However, a Baltimore autism specialist said he

has treated children with autism from the ages of 3-5 with smaller

dosages of Celexa and was successful. According to Dr. Lawrence

Scahill, a study author and professor of child psychiatry and nursing

at the Child Study Center at Yale University, “Clinicians should be

very careful about what they’re targeting if they’re using

medications.” He said antidepressants may be useful in treating

children with autism for depression or anxiety, as they are in children

without autism, but, “if you are targeting for repetitive behaviors,

this medication does not appear to be effective.”

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/child-health/antidepressant-drug-celexa-not-effective-treating-autism-3236.html

Antidepressant Drug Celexa Not Effective in Treating Autism

By: Hajek

Published: Thursday, 4 June 2009

Research

scientists, constantly on the lookout for possible treatments for

autism have struck out again with Celexa, an antidepressant that had

promise in treating symptoms such as repetitive motions. A recent study

proved the drug no more effective than a placebo treatment. With a

growing number of children across the U.S. being diagnosed with autism

each year, doctors and scientists are on a mission to gain more

knowledge about the condition, as well as exploring anything that might

resemble a treatment option. In this case, the researchers actually

reached a result that wasn’t expected, with the drug not proving to be

any more affective than a placebo treatment for the condition.

To

date, there has only been one medication, risperidone (an antipsychotic

drug), approved by the FDA to treat irritability and aggression usually

seen in children with autism. With approximately 1.5 million Americans

with autism, a disorder which is signaled by problems with

communication and social interaction and limited proven drug

treatments, many doctors are looking to drugs used to treat other

conditions, such as those used to treat obsessive compulsive or

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Results from the nationwide

trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the

June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry,

demonstrates a drug once thought to show promise, may not be so

effective for the autistic community.

The

team of researchers led by H. King, M.D., director of child and

adolescent psychiatry at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital and professor

and vice-chairman of psychiatry at the University of Washington School

of Medicine, evaluated 149 children who were being treated at six

academic medical centers across the U.S., ranging in ages from 5 to 17

and were all diagnosed with autism or related disorders from April 2004

to October 2006. The children were divided into two random groups and

given either a placebo or a daily dose of Celexa.

Dr. King

said the researchers had been expecting to prove the value of the drug

in treating autism. However, when evaluating the results, the team

found that 32.9 percent who took Celexa and 34.2 percent of those who

took the placebo actually showed fewer side effects of autism or less

severe repetitive symptoms, and those children given the Celexa

actually had more side effects from the drug, such as hyperactivity,

impulsiveness, decreased concentration, repetitive movements, and sleep

problems. It seems children with autism do better during studies

because of the attention they receive, which may explain the good

results from the placebo treatment. The researchers explained that

without the placebo comparison they may have thought the 32.9 percent

reduction in symptoms was a pretty good result.

According to

Dr. King, “We didn’t expect it to work for everyone, but we were hoping

that we’d be able to drill down into the population for whom it was

very helpful and begin to identify the predictor of what a positive

response would be.” The results raise questions as to the effects of

similar antidepressants. However, a Baltimore autism specialist said he

has treated children with autism from the ages of 3-5 with smaller

dosages of Celexa and was successful. According to Dr. Lawrence

Scahill, a study author and professor of child psychiatry and nursing

at the Child Study Center at Yale University, “Clinicians should be

very careful about what they’re targeting if they’re using

medications.” He said antidepressants may be useful in treating

children with autism for depression or anxiety, as they are in children

without autism, but, “if you are targeting for repetitive behaviors,

this medication does not appear to be effective.”