Venlafaxine in children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders: An open retrospective clinical report

Autism is characterized by social deficits, communication and language impa irments, narrow restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, inattention, an d hyperactivity. While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have demonst rated efficacy in treating core symptoms of autism, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in symptoms of attention-deficit hyp eractivity disorder (ADHD). An open, retrospective clinical study with venl afaxine evaluated its effect on core symptoms of autism as well as associat ed features of ADHD. Ten consecutive subjects meeting Diagnostic and Statis tical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV), criteria for an aut ism spectrum disorder were treated with venlafaxine, initiated at 12.5 mg p er day and adjusted on a flexible basis. Six of 10 completers were judged t o be sustained treatment responders, by scoring 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) on the Clinical Global Impressions improvement scale. Venl afaxine was effective in low dosages (mean, 24.37 mg/day; range, 6.25 to 50 mg/day) and was well tolerated. Improvement was noted in repetitive behavi ors and restricted interests, social deficits, communication and language f unction, inattention, and hyperactivity. Controlled treatment trials with v enlafaxine are warranted in autism spectrum disorders.