A Double-blind Comparison of Clomipramine, Desipramine, and Placebo in the Treatment of Autistic Disorder

doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1993.01820180039004

You are seeing this message because your Web browser does not support basic Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing and what you can do to make your experience on this site better.

Vol. 50 No. 6, June 1993

Online Only
	•	Online First Table of Contents

Original Articles

•	Online Features

This Article
•	References
•	Full text PDF
•	Reply to article
•	Send to a friend
•	Save in My Folder
•	Save to citation manager
•	Permissions

Citing Articles
•	Citation map
•	Citing articles on HighWire
•	Citing articles on Web of Science (217)
•	Contact me when this article is cited

Related Content
•	Similar articles in this journal

Social Bookmarking
	What's this?

A Double-blind Comparison of Clomipramine, Desipramine, and Placebo in the Treatment of Autistic Disorder

Charles T. Gordon, MD; Rosanne C. State, MD; Jean E. Nelson, MHS; Susan D. Hamburger, MA, MS; Judith L. Rapoport, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1993;50(6):441-447.

Abstract

Objective
To determine whether clomipramine hydrochloride, a serotoninreuptake blocker with unique antiobsessional properties, isdifferentially effective for obsessivecompulsive and stereotypedmotor behaviors in autistic disorder compared with placebo andwith the noradrenergic tricyclic antidepressant agent, desipraminehydrochloride.

Design
Following a 2-week, single-blind placebo washout phase, 12 autisticsubjects completed a 10week, double-blind, crossover comparisonof clomipramine and placebo, and 12 different subjects completeda similar comparison of clomipramine and desipramine.

Setting
Outpatient clinic.

Patients
A referral sample of 30 male and female autistic patients wereenrolled, and 24 completed the study.

Measures
Key outcome measures were the Autism Relevant Subscale of theChildren's Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Modified ComprehensivePsychopathological Rating Scale—Obsessive-Copulsive DisorderSubscale, and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale.

Results
Clomipramine was superior to both placebo and desipramine onratings of autistic symptoms (including stereotypies), anger,and compulsive, ritualized behaviors (P<.05), with no differencesbetween desipramine and placebo. Clomipramine was equal to desipramineand both tricyclic agents were superior to placebo for ameliorationof hyperactivity.

Conclusion
Biological links between compulsions and stereotyped, repetitivebehaviors in autistic disorder should be explored.

Author Affiliations

From the Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md.

Add to CiteULike CiteULike Add to Connotea Connotea Add to Delicious Delicious Add to Digg Digg Facebook Add to Reddit Reddit Add to Technorati Technorati Twitter What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Pharmacological Management in Children and Adolescents with Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Sung et al.
Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2010;44:410-428.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT

Lack of Efficacy of Citalopram in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders and High Levels of Repetitive Behavior: Citalopram Ineffective in Children With Autism
King et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009;66:583-590.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT

Current issues in child and adolescent psychopharmacology. Part 2: Anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, autism, Tourette's and schizophrenia
Coghill
Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 2003;9:289-299.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT

Heritable and Nonheritable Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorders
Newschaffer et al.
Epidemiol Rev 2002;24:137-153.
FULL TEXT

Asperger Syndrome: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study of Brain
Murphy et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2002;59:885-891.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study Investigating the Effect of Porcine Secretin in Children with Autism
Corbett et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 2001;40:327-331.
ABSTRACT

Venlafaxine in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Open Retrospective Clinical Report
Hollander et al.
J Child Neurol 2000;15:132-135.
ABSTRACT

Psychopharmacology in Autism
Tsai
Psychosom. Med. 1999;61:651-665.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT

A Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Risperidone in Adults With Autistic Disorder and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders
McDougle et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1998;55:633-641.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT

The Irony of Autism
Leventhal et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1998;55:643-644.
FULL TEXT

Serotonin Transporter (5-HTT) Gene Variants Associated with Autism?
Kluck et al.
Hum Mol Genet 1997;6:2233-2238.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT

Autism Research: Bringing Together Approaches to Pull Apart the Disorder
McBride et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1996;53:980-983.
ABSTRACT

Effects of Tryptophan Depletion in Drug-Free Adults With Autistic Disorder
McDougle et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1996;53:993-1000.
ABSTRACT

A Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Fluvoxamine in Adults With Autistic Disorder
McDougle et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1996;53:1001-1008.
ABSTRACT

| | |