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Cited by 415Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchChild Nutrition and Feeding IssuesSchizophrenia research and treatment

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 61 of the 61 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)

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Williams, Katrina, Brignell, Amanda, Randall, Melinda, Silove, Natalie, Hazell, Philip·2013·Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
DOI 10.1002/14651858.cd004677.pub3PMC PMC11990048
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterised by abnormalities in social interaction and communication skills, as well as stereotypic behaviours and restricted activities and interests. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are prescribed for the treatment of conditions often comorbid with ASD such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviours. OBJECTIVES: To determine if treatment with an SSRI:1. improves the core features of autism (social interaction, communication and behavioural problems);2. improves other non-core aspects of behaviour or function such as self-injurious behaviour;3. improves the quality of life of adults or children and their carers;4. has short- and long-term effects on outcome;5. causes harm. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the following databases up until March 2013: CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC and Sociological Abstracts. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP). This was supplemented by searching reference lists and contacting known experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of any dose of oral SSRI compared with placebo, in people with ASD. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted data and appraised each study's risk of bias. MAIN RESULTS: Nine RCTs with a total of 320 participants were included. Four SSRIs were evaluated: fluoxetine (three studies), fluvoxamine (two studies), fenfluramine (two studies) and citalopram (two studies). Five studies included only children and four studies included only adults. Varying inclusion criteria were used with regard to diagnostic criteria and intelligence quotient of participants. Eighteen different outcome measures were reported. Although more than one study reported data for Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and obsessive-compulsive behaviour (OCB), different tool types or components of these outcomes were used in each study. As such, data were unsuitable for meta-analysis, except for one outcome (proportion improvement). One large, high-quality study in children showed no evidence of positive effect of citalopram. Three small studies in adults showed positive outcomes for CGI and OCB; one study showed improvements in aggression, and another in anxiety. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence of effect of SSRIs in children and emerging evidence of harm. There is limited evidence of the effectiveness of SSRIs in adults from small studies in which risk of bias is unclear.

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Bodfish, 1999, The Repetitive Behavior Scale
  2. Lefebvre C Manheinmer E Glanville J (editors) Chapter 6: Searching for Studies. In: Higgins JPT, Green S (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 [updated March 2011]. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011 Available from www.cochrane-handbook.org
  3. The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager (RevMan) 2012

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Metadata

Authors
Williams, K., Brignell, A., Randall, M., Silove, N., & Hazell, P.
Affiliations
  • Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
  • Children's Hospital at Westmead (AU)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
ORCID
Venue
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013-08-20
Volume
2013
Issue
8
Pages
CD004677-CD004677
ISSN
  • 1361-6137 (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-1858
DOI
10.1002/14651858.cd004677.pub3
PMC
PMC11990048
OpenAlex
W1906903025
Cited by
415
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 47 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 13
FWCI
2.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, fenfluramine, citalopram, obsessive-compulsive behavior, self-harm, aggression, anxiety, social interaction, communication, quality of life, caregivers, adverse effects, children, adults, comorbid depression, anxiety comorbidity
MeSH terms
Adult, Age Factors, Autistic Disorder, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Fenfluramine, Fluoxetine, Humans, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Citalopram, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Fluvoxamine, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

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