Considering that kids suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) manifest certain behavioral issues, professionals aim to develop intuitive techniques for treatment. In one such study, scientists from the Yale University School of Medicine found that autistic children responded positively to therapeutic drugs when combined with parental training.
As part of the trial, 124 autistic kids in the age-group 4 to 13 were incorporated. These children also seemed to suffer from behavioral issues like multiple tantrums, self-injuring behavior and aggression. Further, they were categorized into 2 groups, firstly those who were treated with medication alone and the second set that was exposed to parental training too.
During training sessions, parents were enlightened on the means to help their kids adjust to regular living instances. The team used an approved drug namely risperidone for the treatment of autistic children showing behavioral problems in the analysis.
“Serious behavioral problems interfere with everyday living for children and their families. Decreasing these serious behavioral problems results in children who are more able to manage everyday living,†commented senior author on the study Lawrence Scahill, professor at Yale University School of Nursing and the Child Study Center.
The scientists found that the combined group yielded better results in terms of the kids’ adaptation to everyday situations. The group exposed to medication alone without any sort of parental involvement was supposedly not as relieved as the latter.
Now, the investigators are heading towards a trial which will use parental training as a primary strategy in treating young kids affected by ASDs. The report is published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.