AUTISM: FDA DRUG APPROVAL FOR TEENS AND PRETEENS

BY:MYRA DEMBROW

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with five other organizations, has begun the largest study ever undertaken to try to find genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to autism. The five-year project will study 2,700 of the approximately 300,000 U.S. children with the condition.

But progress, in the meantime, was recently made when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in October approved Risperdal (risperidone), previously used to treat adult schizophrenics and to relieve manic episodes in adults with bipolar disorder, to help in the treatment of children and teens with autism.

Autistic behaviors diminished significantly among those who took Risperdal, according to the FDA. The 156 study participants ranged in age from five to 16 years, but most were younger than 13. The drug's common side effects include drowsiness, constipation, fatigue and weight gain.

While more information is being sought into the causes of autism, the Autism Society of America recently released these tips that might help a caregiver cope:

• Acknowledge that an autistic child's behavior is inherently difficult; feeling overwhelmed is an admission of fact, not failure
• Use breathing and relaxation techniques
• Take a break to do something you enjoy
• Let relatives or friends care for the child occasionally, while you go to a movie or restaurant
• Join a support group to share your experiences with others and to get ideas from them on how to cope
• Keep a journal; writing about your feelings can calm you