Use and effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) belongs to the group of neurodevelopmental disorders. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) , people with ASD are characterized by alterations in social interaction and communication , as well as restricted interest s and repetitive behaviors. Since ASD is a heterogeneous disorder , different pharmacological treatments are used to control behavioral changes or comorbidities that usually occur. For the management of aggression in children and adolescent s with ASD , second-generation or atypical antipsychotics , such as risperidone and aripiprazole , are the only drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The objective of this review is to analyze through the analysis of clinical studies and reviews the effectiveness of the antipsychotics in patients with this diagnosis and who are between 5 and 17 years old, the age range in which these drugs were approved for use; including their administration in children under 4 years of age and in adults. From this, it is confirmed that said drugs improve behavioral measurement scales in some of the disruptive behaviors present in this disorder; however, it is necessar y to carr y out new studies to compare these treatments with other drugs and explore other forms of management or therapies.