EDITORIAL
Welcome. This our second issue of our newsletter
"Spectrum" that is being provided on quarterly basis
to update you information on the activities of
the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Research
Program under the direction of Dr. Antonio
Hardan. We appreciated the feedback that we've
received after our first issue and will look forward
to hear your input about this and future issues.
We are hoping that you will find this newsletter
helpful and informative. Please feel free to forward
it to families and friends.
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EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Educational Series for Parents
The Stanford Autism Center at LPCH is offering a 10 part program, focused on diagnosis, treatment, and services, for parents of children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Sessions are held at 401 Quarry Road on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:00pm for $5 per meeting. Sessions are on a drop-in basis and parents may join at any time for individual sessions.
Register at http://childpsychiatry.stanford.edu |
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Issue 2, october 2009
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
The 2nd to 4th digit ratio and autism (Manning
et al., 2001; University of Liverpool).
It has
been suggested that autism may arise as the result
of exposure to high concentrations of prenatal
testosterone. There is evidence that the ratio of
the lengths of the 2nd and 4th digit (2D:4D) may
be negatively correlated with prenatal testosterone.
We measured 2D:4D in 95 families comprised
a total 72 children with autism (62 males, 10 females;
age range 2 to 14 years), including 34 siblings,
88 fathers, 88 mothers and sex- and agematched
control participants. We found that the
2D:4D ratios of children with autism, their siblings,
fathers and mothers were lower than population
normative values. Children with AS, who
share the social and communicative symptoms of
autism but have normal or even high IQ, had
higher 2D:4D ratios than children with autism but
lower ratios than population normative values.
There were positive associations between 2D:4D
ratios of children with autism and the ratios of
their relatives. Children with autism had lower
than expected 2D:4D ratios and children with AS
higher ratios than expected in relation to their fathers'
2D:4D ratio. It was concluded that 2D:4D
ratio may be a possible marker for autism which
could implicate prenatal testosterone in its etiology.
A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-
Controlled Study of Fixed-Dose Aripiprazole in
Children and Adolescents With Autistic Disorder
(Marcus et al., 2009).
The short-term efficacy
and safety of aripiprazole were evaluated in the
treatment of irritability in children and adolescents
with autistic disorder. Two hundred eighteen
children and adolescents (aged 6-17 years)
with autism and disruptive behaviors were randomized
1:1:1:1 to aripiprazole (5, 10, or 15 mg/
day) or placebo in this 8-week double-blind, randomized,
placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.
Efficacy was evaluated using the caregiver-rated
Aberrant Behavior Checklist Irritability subscale
and the clinician-rated Clinical Global Impressions-
Improvement score. At week 8, all aripiprazole
doses produced significantly greater improvement
than placebo in mean Aberrant Behavior
Checklist Irritability subscale scores. All aripiprazole
doses demonstrated significantly greater improvements
in mean Clinical Global Impressions-
Improvement score than placebo at week 8. Discontinuation
rates due to adverse events were as
follows: placebo 7.7%, aripiprazole 5 mg/day
9.4%, 10 mg/day 13.6%, and 15 mg/day 7.4%.
The most common adverse event leading to discontinuation
was sedation. At week 8, mean
weight change was as follows: placebo +0.3 kg,
aripiprazole 5 mg/day +1.3 kg, 10 mg/day +1.3
kg, and 15 mg/day +1.5 kg; all p < .05 versus placebo.
In Conlusion, aripiprazole was efficacious
and generally safe and well tolerated in the treatment
of children and adolescents with irritability
associated with autistic disorder.
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