Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center

This chapter discusses applied behavior analysis (ABA) and describes how it has been at the forefront of successful outcomes in ASD treatment for several decades. Although not a magic cure, ABA has been shown to be one of the most successful evidence-based treatments for autism. This chapter also explores additional treatments that have been developed based on the practices and theory of ABA and how such therapies have become truly interdisciplinary in nature.

Aripiprazole was recently US FDA-approved to treat irritability in children and adolescents with autistic disorder aged 6-17 years. There are currently only two psychotropics approved by the FDA to treat irritability in the autistic population. This drug profile will discuss available studies of aripiprazole in individuals with pervasive developmental disorders, two of which led to its recent FDA approval. We will discuss the efficacy, as well as the safety and tolerability of the drug documented in these studies. In addition, the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, metabolism and mechanism of action of aripiprazole will be reviewed.