ABSTRACT
Defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth
Edition (DSM-IV) by qualitative impairments in social interactions and
restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interest, and activ-
ities, to date there has been no specific pharmacological treatment of the “core
symptoms” of Asperger syndrome, or of any of the autistic spectrum disorders. It
is without argument and appropriately addressed in another chapter in this ref-
erence that the most effective treatment of Asperger’s is a multidisciplinary
approach, which encompasses educational needs, social relatedness with family
and peers, pragmatic communicative skills, and adaptive functioning. Pharma-
cotherapy has predominantly been used to target problematic symptoms of
maladaptive behavior, such as aggression, or comorbid disorders that occur with
the syndrome such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or
depression. Additionally, most clinical research in this area has focused on the
treatment of individuals with autism or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD),
perhaps with a small number of Asperger’s subjects, but often excluding this
population from the protocols. Only recently has there been attention directed
toward specific treatment outcomes in individuals with Asperger syndrome. The
following review of current biological treatment considerations is based on lit-
erature reviews, expert opinions, and recent research.
