Table 2.
Population-Based Prevalence of Prescription Psychotropic Medication Use in Percentages, Compared Across Three Groups
| ASD Only | ASD and ADHD | ADHD | Comparison test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||
| Any medication | 34.3% | 58.2% | 49.0% | a***, b** |
| Class specific | ||||
| Antipsychotic | 14.8% | 23.0% | 2.8% | a*, b**, c*** |
| Risperidone | 10.6% | 17.3% | 1.4% | a*, b***, c*** |
| Antidepressant or antianxiety | 20.9% | 29.9% | 11.2% | a*, b**, c*** |
| SSRI | 15.6% | 19.4% | 5.3% | b***, c*** |
| Mood stabilizer or antiseizure | 7.7% | 10.8% | 2.9% | b**, c*** |
| Stimulant | 6.3% | 33.0% | 44.3% | a***, b***, c* |
Source: National Longitudinal Transition Study 2.
Notes: Number of multiply imputed data sets=50. Weighted to population levels. Variances adjusted for sampling method. Antidepressant or antianxiety includes SSRIs and other medication classes such as tricyclics and benzodiazepines. Because the majority of usage in this heterogeneous category was from SSRIs we also include this more specific group.
*
p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.
a=ASD only versus ASD and ADHD; b=ASD only versus ADHD only; c=ASD and ADHD versus ADHD only; SSRI=serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor.