Jim KwikFounder, Kwik Brain · Brain Coach

What are the treatments for autism?

5 Sept 2024 · 1 min

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In this segment of a YouTube interview, Jim Kwik asks about current autism treatments. The speaker explains that behavioral management therapies, especially those based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), are the primary non‑pharmacological approach, aiming to reinforce desired behaviors and reduce unwanted ones. Regarding medication, the speaker notes that no drugs treat the core features of autism; only two FDA‑approved antipsychotics—risperidone and aripiprazole—are used, primarily to address secondary symptoms such as irritability. These medications carry significant side effects (weight gain, sedation, tremors) and do not improve social abilities or reduce restricted/repetitive behaviors.

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But what are the traditional early interventions or treatments currently for autism?
So one is that there are behavioral therapies that are used to manage symptoms. So basically behavioral management therapies try to reinforce wanted behaviors and reduce unwanted behaviors. And many of them are based on applied behavioral analysis. So that's one option that we have. And then the other option in terms of medications, there are no medications that treat these core behavioral features of autism. Autism. So right now, the FDA is what approves medications, and there are only 2 medications approved for the treatment of autism, which are antipsychotics, risperidone and aripiprazole. And they cause a lot of side effects like weight gain, sedation, and tremors, and they only target sort of secondary features like irritability, but they don't improve social abilities or they don't reduce restricted repetitive behaviors.