Treatment of Aggression in Children and Adolescents With Autism and Conduct Disorder

The optimal clinical management of aggression in children and adolescents involves both behavioraland pharmacologic intervention strategies. This article reviews medication treatments for youngsterswith autistic disorder and conduct disorder, conditions for which the pharmacologic managementof aggression is often necessary. Efficacy results and associated adverse effects from selected clinicaltrials of most classes of psychotropic medications are discussed. While preliminary progress has beenmade in the development of medication treatments for these serious disorders of youth, additionalcontrolled research and longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the efficacy and tolerabilityof currently available compounds within each diagnostic group.