Pharmacological Approach to Sleep Disturbances in Autism Spectrum Disorders with Psychiatric Comorbidities: A Literature Review
1
Department of Psychiatry, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, 920, Madison Avenue, Suite 200, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
2
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 920, Stanton L Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Med. Sci. 2018, 6(4), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci6040095
Received: 15 August 2018
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Revised: 4 October 2018
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Accepted: 17 October 2018
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Published: 25 October 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Updates in Pediatric Sleep and Child Psychiatry)
Autism is a developmental disability that can cause significant emotional, social and behavioral dysfunction. Sleep disorders co-occur in approximately half of the patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleep problems in individuals with ASD have also been associated with poor social interaction, increased stereotypy, problems in communication, and overall autistic behavior. Behavioral interventions are considered a primary modality of treatment. There is limited evidence for psychopharmacological treatments in autism; however, these are frequently prescribed. Melatonin, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and α agonists have generally been used with melatonin, having a relatively large body of evidence. Further research and information are needed to guide and individualize treatment for this population group.
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Keywords:
autism spectrum disorder; sleep disorders in ASD; medications for sleep disorders in ASD; comorbidities in ASD
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MDPI and ACS Style
Relia, S.; Ekambaram, V. Pharmacological Approach to Sleep Disturbances in Autism Spectrum Disorders with Psychiatric Comorbidities: A Literature Review. Med. Sci. 2018, 6, 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci6040095
AMA Style
Relia S, Ekambaram V. Pharmacological Approach to Sleep Disturbances in Autism Spectrum Disorders with Psychiatric Comorbidities: A Literature Review. Medical Sciences. 2018; 6(4):95. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci6040095
Chicago/Turabian StyleRelia, Sachin, and Vijayabharathi Ekambaram. 2018. "Pharmacological Approach to Sleep Disturbances in Autism Spectrum Disorders with Psychiatric Comorbidities: A Literature Review" Medical Sciences 6, no. 4: 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci6040095
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