The VKC IDDRC is one of 15 research centers funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. In addition to providing core research services to faculty, IDDRCs also must support at least one research project related to one of several focus themes identified as an area of research need in intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Angela Maxwell-Horn, M.D.
VKC IDDRC Research Project:Improving precision use of antipsychotic medication in individuals with ASD Project Co-PI: Angela Maxwell-Horn, M.D. (Pediatrics)
Antipsychotics are medications that are used to treat irritability in people with autism spectrum disorders. While very effective, these medications can also have some side effects like making people gain weight. Two of the most commonly used antipsychotics are risperidone and aripiprazole. While both medications have been associated with weight gain because they work in slightly different ways, we do not know if the risk of weight gain is the same for these two drugs.
To assess this in a real-world setting, we are conducting a “pragmatic trial” in a normal clinic setting. In clinic, if the medical provider decides that treatment with an antipsychotic medication is appropriate to help with behavior problems, the patient is randomly assigned to either risperidone or aripiprazole. During standard follow up clinic visits, we will look at changes in patient weight three months after starting the medication.
The project is ongoing and actively recruiting. Ultimately, successful completion will help inform the use of these medications and decrease the concerning associated side effects. Additionally, this work will provide important knowledge and experience about conducting real-world pragmatic trials in intellectual and developmental disabilities that could be used to develop new trials to help improve the lives of affected individuals.
