Autism not helped by antidepressant drug

MANHASSET, N.Y., June 2 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers found the antidepressant drug citalopram was no better than a placebo in treating autism behavior such as spinning or rocking.

The multicenter, 12-week clinical trial involving 149 children ages 5-17 was directed by the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y.

The researchers suggest the study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, should serve to reduce the number of antidepressant prescriptions written for children with autism and similar conditions on the autism spectrum.

"We can't rely on apparent similarities to other conditions and clinical experiences to guide our treatment strategies," Dr. Joel Bregman, the study investigator, said in a statement. "This was a large, double-blind clinical trial that showed that this class of medicine is not effective in reducing these behaviors."

The researchers noted the placebo response was very high. One in three children in both groups -- 32.9 percent treated with citalopram and 34.2 percent treated with placebo -- were reported to have fewer or less severe symptoms.