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Low-Impact Functioning Autism and Psychotropic Medications

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Title: Low-Impact Functioning Autism and Psychotropic Medications
Authors: Butler, Angela N
Committee Members: Ralph Lecounte Ogburn
Summary: From the onset of the discovery of its existence, studies provided additional information pertaining to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its influences on a child’s growth, everyday performance, including the capability to interrelate with people. Studies on appropriate medications to prescribe to ASD youth have yielded questionable results. Objective: This study’s purpose was to address adverse effects as an overall issue and re-evaluation of the psychotropic medications prescribed to Low-Impact ASD (LIASD) youth. Additionally, this study examined the process of diagnosing and supporting the reclassification of autism. Method: A mixed-methods design was employed, to review prescribed medications and determine the relationship between them and observed behaviors. A questionnaire provided to the parents and youth addressed specified mannerisms and adverse effects before and after ingesting psychotropic medications. Results: Quantitative data revealed that the autistic youth were exhibiting behaviors similar to mental health (MH) diagnoses, causing misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments. Qualitative data revealed that the autistic youth were experiencing adverse effects that non-ASD youth were not experiencing, such as increased aggression, psychosis, self-harm, and fire-related behaviors. The findings highlight the need for autism-focused training for MH providers for diagnostic accuracy and to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis among youth. The results also support the development of autism-informed prescribing guidelines to minimize adverse reactions and to ensure safer, more appropriate use of psychotropic medications in neurodivergent populations.
URL: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7372
Database: OpenDissertations
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  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ddu
DbLabel: OpenDissertations
An: ddu.oai.digitalcommons.liberty.edu.doctoral.8431
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Dissertation/ Thesis
PubTypeId: dissertation
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: Low-Impact Functioning Autism and Psychotropic Medications
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="CO" term="%22Ralph+Lecounte+Ogburn%22">Ralph Lecounte Ogburn</searchLink>
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  Data: From the onset of the discovery of its existence, studies provided additional information pertaining to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its influences on a child’s growth, everyday performance, including the capability to interrelate with people. Studies on appropriate medications to prescribe to ASD youth have yielded questionable results. Objective: This study’s purpose was to address adverse effects as an overall issue and re-evaluation of the psychotropic medications prescribed to Low-Impact ASD (LIASD) youth. Additionally, this study examined the process of diagnosing and supporting the reclassification of autism. Method: A mixed-methods design was employed, to review prescribed medications and determine the relationship between them and observed behaviors. A questionnaire provided to the parents and youth addressed specified mannerisms and adverse effects before and after ingesting psychotropic medications. Results: Quantitative data revealed that the autistic youth were exhibiting behaviors similar to mental health (MH) diagnoses, causing misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments. Qualitative data revealed that the autistic youth were experiencing adverse effects that non-ASD youth were not experiencing, such as increased aggression, psychosis, self-harm, and fire-related behaviors. The findings highlight the need for autism-focused training for MH providers for diagnostic accuracy and to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis among youth. The results also support the development of autism-informed prescribing guidelines to minimize adverse reactions and to ensure safer, more appropriate use of psychotropic medications in neurodivergent populations.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: High-Functioning Autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Low-Impact autism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: psychotropic medications
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: adverse effects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: arson
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: psychosis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: aggression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: violence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: comorbidity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: suicidal ideation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychiatry and Psychology
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Low-Impact Functioning Autism and Psychotropic Medications
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Butler, Angela N
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 29
              M: 08
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
ResultId 1