ERIC Number: EJ1460703
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Feb
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3257
EISSN: EISSN-1573-3432
Available Date: 2024-01-14
Prevalence of Psychotropic Medication Use and Psychotropic Polypharmacy in Autistic Adults with or without Intellectual Disability
Kazunari Yoshida1,2,3; Yona Lunsky1,4; Daniel J. Müller2,4,5; Pushpal Desarkar1,4,5,6
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, v55 n2 p457-471 2025
The aim of this study was to compare the rates of psychotropic medication use and psychotropic polypharmacy between autistic adults with and without intellectual disability (ID) and to examine factors associated with psychotropic medication use and psychotropic polypharmacy in autistic adults, stratified by the presence of ID. We conducted a retrospective medical chart review of outpatients with an autism diagnosis aged 18 years and older. The rates of psychotropic medication use and psychotropic polypharmacy were compared between autistic adults with and without ID. Subsequently, logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with psychotropic medication use and psychotropic polypharmacy in autistic adults with ID and those without ID, respectively. The rates of prevalence of psychotropic medication use and polypharmacy were significantly higher in participants with ID than those without ID (78.6% vs. 58.8% and 49.3% vs. 31.2%; p-values < 0.05). Age, gender, race, residence, presence of mood disorders, presence of schizophrenia, absence of anxiety disorder, number of psychiatric comorbidities, and presence of behaviors that challenge were significantly associated with these outcomes, depending on the presence/absence of ID. The need to optimize pharmacotherapy in autistic adults, stratifying by the presence of ID, is highlighted.
Descriptors: Drug Therapy, Adults, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intellectual Disability, Incidence, Individual Characteristics, Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada; 2Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Tanenbaum Centre for Pharmacogenetics, Toronto, Canada; 3Keio University School of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; 4University of Toronto, Department of Psychiatry, Toronto, Canada; 5University of Toronto, Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, Canada; 6Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Adult Neurodevelopmental Services, Toronto, Canada