a typical antipsychotics in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: a narrative literature review

Autism spectrum disorder (asd) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, repetitive behaviour, and an inability to interact with the surrounding environment. atypical antipsychotics, particularly risperidone and aripiprazole, represent important pharmacological interventions for managing behavioural symptoms in paediatric asd populations. this narrative literature review evaluates the use of atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of behavioural symptoms in children and adolescents with asd aged 5-18 years, examining their effectiveness, safety profiles, and clinical monitoring requirements.a comprehensive literature search was conducted using pubmed/medline, embase, psycinfo, and cochrane library databases (2010-2024). studies involving children and adolescents with asd treated with fda-approved antipsychotics were included. data were extracted regarding efficacy, safety, dosing regimens, and clinical outcomes.two atypical antipsychotics have received fda approval for treating irritability in paediatric asd populations: risperidone (ages 5+ years) and aripiprazole (ages 6-17 years). both medications demonstrate efficacy in reducing aggression, irritability, and self-injurious behaviours. however, significant adverse effects include weight gain, metabolic disturbances, extrapyramidal symptoms, and prolactin elevation, necessitating regular monitoring. atypical antipsychotics can effectively reduce behavioural symptoms associated with asd in children and adolescents when used as adjunctive therapy. however, their use requires careful risk-benefit assessment, conservative dosing approaches, and comprehensive monitoring protocols due to heightened sensitivity in paediatric populations.