Published on 31/01/2024 in Cureus

The case study paper explores the association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and common mental health disorders, focusing on the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in individuals with ASD and the use of stimulant medications as a treatment.

The paper presents a case study of a 13-year-old male with ASD, ADHD, anxiety, and depression who experienced psychosis after initiating lisdexamfetamine.

The psychotic symptoms subsided upon discontinuation of lisdexamfetamine, but there was a re-emergence of severe ADHD symptoms resistant to non-stimulant medications. The patient showed significant improvement with extended-release methylphenidate.

The paper notes the lack of clinical guidelines for selecting specific classes of stimulants in treating ADHD comorbid with ASD, yet recommends considering methylphenidate as a first-line treatment due to better tolerability compared to amphetamines.

The paper emphasizes the increased risk for psychosis in individuals with ASD and the lack of specific guidelines for recommending one class of stimulant over another in the treatment of ADHD comorbid with ASD.

The authors stress the need for further research on the risk of psychosis associated with the use of stimulants in patients with autism spectrum disorder.

In simple terms, the article discusses how a medication used to treat ADHD in a child with autism might have led to him experiencing strange behaviors and hallucinations. The authors suggest that when treating similar cases, it’s important to consider different types of medications and closely monitor their effects.

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