Table 2.
Frequency | Treatments | |
---|---|---|
Developmental5 | ||
Cognitive; intellectual disability | 40–80% | Educational |
Language deficits | 50–63% | Communication training, speech and language therapy |
Attentional problems, impulsivity, or hyperactivity |
59% | Behavioural intervention, psychopharmacotherapy (eg, stimulants, atomoxetine, or alpha blockers) |
Motor delay | 9–19% | Physical therapy |
Hypotonia | 50% | Physical therapy |
Psychiatric22 | ||
Anxiety | 43–84% | Behavioural treatment such as relaxation, cognitive behavioural treatment, psychopharmacotherapy (eg, SSRIs or alpha-2 agonists) |
Depression | 2–30% | Psychotherapy, antidepressants |
Obsessive compulsive disorder or interfering repetitive behaviour |
37% | Behavioural treatment, SSRIs and other drugs such as atypical antipsychotics |
Oppositional defiant disorder | 7% | Behavioural treatment |
Behavioural problems | 3% | Behavioural treatment |
Behavioural23 | ||
Disruptive, irritable, or aggressive behaviour |
8–32% | Behavioural intervention, atypical antipsychotics (eg, risperidone or arapiprazole) |
Self-injurious behaviour | 34% | Behavioural intervention; drugs (eg, risperidone, naltrexone, and others) |
Sensory24 | ||
Tactile | 80–90% | Occupational therapy, behavioural treatment, and desensitisation |
Auditory sensitivity | 5–47% | Occupational therapy |
Neurological25 | ||
Seizures and epilepsy | 5–49% | Anticonvulsants |
Tics | 8–10% | Alpha-2 agonists (clonidine and guanfacine) and others such as atomoxetine |
Gastrointestinal26 | ||
Food selectivity | 30–90% | Behavioural treatment, investigation as appropriate for gastrointestinal difficulties |
Gastro-oesophageal reflux, constipation |
8–59% | Gastrointestinal investigations as appropriate (eg, barium swallow or milk scan for gastrooesophageal reflux; flat plate, clean out, stool softener, or cathartic for constipation as clinically indicated) |
Sleep27 | ||
Sleep disruption | 52–73% | Sleep diary, sleep hygiene, behavioural supports, investigation of possible medical comorbidities as cause, drugs (eg, melatonin and clonidine) |
SSRI=selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.