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document
Lamotrigine therapy for autistic disorder : a randomized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial . In autism , glutamate may be increased or its receptors up-regulated as part of an excitotoxic process that damages neural networks and subsequently contributes to behavioral and cognitive deficits seen in the disorder . This was a double-blind , placebo-controlled , parallel group study of lamotrigine , an agent that modulates glutamate release . Twenty-eight children ( 27 boys ) ages 3 to 11 years ( M = 5.8 ) with a primary diagnosis of autistic disorder received either placebo or lamotrigine twice daily . In children on lamotrigine , the drug was titrated upward over 8 weeks to reach a mean maintenance dose of 5.0 mg/kg per day . This dose was then maintained for 4 weeks . Following maintenance evaluations , the drug was tapered down over 2 weeks . The trial ended with a 4-week drug-free period . Outcome measures included improvements in severity and behavioral features of autistic disorder ( stereotypies , lethargy , irritability , hyperactivity , emotional reciprocity , sharing pleasures ) and improvements in language and communication , socialization , and daily living skills noted after 12 weeks ( the end of a 4-week maintenance phase ) . We did not find any significant differences in improvements between lamotrigine or placebo groups on the Autism Behavior Checklist , the Aberrant Behavior Checklist , the Vineland Adaptive Behavior scales , the PL-ADOS , or the CARS . Parent rating scales showed marked improvements , presumably due to expectations of benefits .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Lamotrigine therapy
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Intervention_Pharmacological
lamotrigine
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Intervention_Control
received either placebo
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Intervention_Pharmacological
lamotrigine twice daily
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Intervention_Pharmacological
lamotrigine , the drug was titrated upward over 8 weeks to reach a mean maintenance dose of 5.0 mg/kg per day
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Intervention_Pharmacological
This dose was then maintained for 4 weeks
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Intervention_Pharmacological
Following maintenance evaluations , the drug was tapered down over 2 weeks
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Intervention_Physical
The trial ended with a 4-week drug-free period
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Intervention_Pharmacological
lamotrigine
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Outcome_Mental
severity and behavioral features of autistic disorder
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Outcome_Mental
stereotypies , lethargy , irritability , hyperactivity , emotional reciprocity , sharing pleasures )
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Outcome_Mental
improvements in language
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Outcome_Mental
communication
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Outcome_Mental
socialization
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Outcome_Mental
Autism Behavior Checklist , the Aberrant Behavior Checklist , the Vineland Adaptive Behavior scales , the PL-ADOS , or the CARS
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Outcome_Mental
Parent rating scales
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Participant_Condition
autistic disorder :
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Participant_Sample-size
Twenty-eight
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Sample-size
27
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Participant_Age
ages 3 to 11 years