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Brief Report: Social Disability in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results from Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network Trials

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Abstract

There is growing interest in measuring social disability as a core element of autism spectrum disorders in medication trials. We conducted a secondary analysis on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist Social Withdrawal subscale using data from two federally-funded, multi-site, randomized trials with risperidone. Study 1 included 52 subjects assigned to placebo and 49 subjects to risperidone under double-blind conditions. Study 2 included 49 subjects assigned to risperidone only and 75 subjects assigned to risperidone plus parent training. After 8 weeks of treatment, all active treatments were superior to placebo (effect sizes ranging from 0.42 to 0.65). The findings suggest that the Social Withdrawal subscale may be a useful measure of social disability in acute treatment trials.

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Acknowledgments

NIMH: Ann Wagner, Ph.D., William R. Harlan, M.D., Yale: Mary Ellen Pachler.MSN, Karol Katz, MS, Caitlin Tillberg, B.A. IU: Jon T. Diener, B·S.; Kelly A. Ernsperger, L.C.S.W.; Joy M. Fairbanks, M.S.; Jennifer E. Mullett, R.N.; Marianna R. Zaphiriou, B.A. OSU: Kristy Hall-Reel, M.A.; Amanda Wilkes, M.A.; Kristina Humphries, M.S.; Lorelai Ark, M.A.; Susan Thompson. For support as Scientific Advisors: Andrew C. Leon, Ph.D., Weill Medical College of Cornell University Jose Alvir, Dr.P.H., New York University Child Study Center; CT Gordon, M.D. (Private Practice, Rockville, Maryland); Sandra Harris, Ph.D., Rutgers University, State University of New Jersey; Henrietta Leonard, M.D., Brown University; Susan Swedo, M.D., NIMH Intramural Research Program; Richard Todd, Ph.D., M.D., Washington University School of Medicine. DSMB. This work was funded by National Institute of Mental Health by the following RUPP grants and contracts: Yale, N01MH70009, U10MH66764 (Dr Scahill); Ohio State University, N01MH80011, U10MH66768 (Dr Aman); Indiana University, N01MH70001, U10MH66766 (Dr McDougle); N01MH70010 (Dr McCracken); and. Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development provided active risperidone and placebo for RUPP 1 and risperidone for RUPP 2. This publication was also supported by the Yale CTSA, UL1 RR024139, IU CTSA UL1 RR025761, OSU CTSA UL1 RR025755 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR); K24 MH001805 (Dr McCracken) from the National Institute of Mental Health, and by the Korczak Foundation, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (Dr Scahill).

Conflict of interest

Dr. Scahill: Roche, consultant; Pfizer, consultant; Bracket, consultatnt, BioMarin, consultant. Shire, research support; Roche, research support; Pfizer, research support. Dr. Aman: Roche, consultant; Bristol-Meyers Squibb, consultant, research grant; Forest, consultant; Pfizer, consultant; Supernus, consultant; Johnson & Johnson, research grant. Dr. McDougle: Bristol-Myers Squibb, consultant, research grant, speaker’s bureau; Forest Research Institute, consultant. Dr. McCracken: Hoffman-Roche, consultant; BioMarin, consultant; Shionogi, consultant; Novartis, consultant; Noven, consultant; PharmaNet consultant; Bristol Myers Squibb, consultant; Seaside Therapeutics, consultant, research support; Dr. Arnold: AstraZeneca, advisory board; Biomarin, advisory board; CureMark, research funding; Lilly, research funding; Noven, advisory board; Seaside therapeutics, advisory board; Shire, research funding. Dr. Tierney : BioMarin, consultant. Dr. Dziura and Dr. Vitiello report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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Author notes

  1. Lawrence Scahill

    Present address: Emory University, Department of Pediatrics and Marcus Center, 1920 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA

  2. Victoria Hallett

    Present address: Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University School of Nursing and Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Lawrence Scahill & Victoria Hallett

  2. Nisonger Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Michael G. Aman & L. Eugene Arnold

  3. Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Christopher J. McDougle

  4. Division of Child Psychiatry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    James T. McCracken

  5. Johns Hopkins University and Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Elaine Tierney

  6. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Yanhong Deng

  7. Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    James Dziura

  8. National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Benedetto Vitiello

  9. Indiana University, Indinapolis, IN, USA

    Christopher J. McDougle

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  1. Lawrence Scahill
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  2. Victoria Hallett
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  3. Michael G. Aman
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the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network)

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lawrence Scahill.

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Scahill, L., Hallett, V., Aman, M.G. et al. Brief Report: Social Disability in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results from Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network Trials. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 739–746 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1689-3

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