Control of psychomotor agitation and aggressive behavior in patients with autistic disorder: a retrospective chart review.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of pharmacotherapy on the symptoms of psychomotor agitation and aggressive behavior in a sample of patients with autistic spectrum disorder. METHOD The charts of all patients with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder, receiving care for psychomotor agitation and/or aggressive behavior in two psychiatric outpatient departments between 2001 and 2006, were reviewed. The Clinical Global Impression-Severity and -Improvement scales (CGI-S and CGI-I) were applied to the data retrieved from the charts. RESULTS The majority of the 26 patients included were treated with second-generation antipsychotics. A positive, statistically significant correlation was found between the implementation of pharmacotherapy and a reduction in CGI-S scores (p<0.05). Treatment response in patients with no mental retardation was better than in those mentally retarded (p<0.05). The majority of patients in whom clinical improvement was found following implementation of treatment had participated in at least one form of intervention therapy in addition to the principal treatment (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Second-generation antipsychotics seem to reduce psychomotor agitation and aggressive behavior in patients with autistic spectrum disorder; however, further studies are required to evaluate the side effects of these drugs in relation to their beneficial effects.