Autism attention

Neuroleptics are used primarily in managing the symptoms of schizophrenia, although they are also used to treat a variety of conditions, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and even to alleviate severe pain. 

Initially, the neuroleptics were used to manage severe anxiety, agitation, and aggression in individuals with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, a psychotic illness characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized, illogical thinking. The first neuroleptic used in schizophrenia was chlorpromazine (Thorazine) in 1952. Additional neuroleptics were later developed to treat a variety of other disorders and conditions in children and adults, including autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar dis-... 

In terms of approved medical use, the neuroleptics are often prescribed for children with autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Tourette s syndrome. In addition, the popularity of the newer atypical neuroleptics for childhood bipolar disorder is growing rapidly, and sometimes these drugs are the only treatment offered. The neuroleptics are also commonly prescribed for the elderly in nursing homes or other insti-... 

What do Gulf War Syndrome, Katrina Cough, Aerospace Syndrome, and epidemic increases in the incidence of autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), birth defects, asthma, mailroom illness, spontaneous abortion, and many cancers have in common Each of these can be associated with a single causative agent, but each can also be associated with environmental exposure to chemical mixtures that do not contain any of the known causative agents. 

This chapter is concerned with the neurochemical basis of developmental disability which is considered here in two forms the globally delayed or halted development seen in mental retardation, and the more circumscribed pattern of disordered development of autism. A range of deficits of important key aspects of consciousness are apparent in both conditions. Of particular relevance to consciousness are the cognitive and behavioural impairments in attention, concentration, memory, information processing and social behaviour which are commonly present. Consideration of aberrant neurotransmitter activities in these developmental deficits may provide insights into the role of neurotransmitters in consciousness. 

Autism is an interesting model for the study of consciousness. The combination of social isolation, language impairment and restricted, repetitive interests and behaviours together with idiosyncratic patterns in attention, concentration and interpersonal behaviour offer opportunities for the exploration of certain aspects of consciousness ... 

Since no consistent differences in serotonergic catabolism or metabolism have been identified in autism, yet a substantial proportion of autistic people have increased concentrations of platelet serotonin, attention has turned to the platelets themselves. Platelet irregularities may include increased platelet exposure, increased platelet volume or enhanced platelet uptake and storage, of serotonin. By measuring the concentration of plasma free levels of serotonin, it is possible to assess whether the platelet is exposed to elevated lev-... 

The peptide, melatonin, has been implicated in autism. Excess melatonin is thought to decrease learning, memory, attention, emotionality, motivation and pain responses (reviewed Chamberlain Herman, 1990)—all behaviours that are abnormal in autism. Melatonin, released from the pineal gland, is implicated in controlling serotonin and POMC (proopiomelanocortin) peptides, such as beta-endorphin, and an elevation may contribute to, or cause, the serotonin and opioid abnormalities (Chamberlain Herman, 1990). 

Recent research has indicated select abnormalities in the cholinergic system (Perry et al., 2001). Although previously unexamined neurochemically, there was an indication that the cholinergic system may be involved in autism, with abnormalities reported in neurons in the basal forebrain (Bauman Kemper, 1994). Perry et al. (2001) found extensive loss of high affinity nicotinic receptors from the neocortex (frontal and parietal), and from the cerebellum (Lee, et al., in preparation). Nicotinic receptors are implicated in attention, and also consciousness as many general anaesthetics block the receptor channel (Chapter 9). 

The developmental neurotoxicity guideline, accepted by OECD in 2007, has added the important aspect of behavioral effects of pre- and postnatal exposure to chemicals. This development arose from the notion that behavioral disorders in man such as anxiety, depression, phobias, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which appear to show increasing prevalences in western societies, may have a perinatal origin (4, 5). In the absence of causal inferences with respect to chemicals it seems nevertheless prudent to assess in a risk assessment whether such causal relations may exist. 

Unlabeled Uses Treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, behavioral syndromes in dementia... 

Additionally, an opioid antagonist, naltrexone, has been used to treat children with autism. The results from these studies have been mixed, with some studies showing a mild decrease in hyperactivity and self-injurious behavior, and improved attention (Gillberg, 1995). The children who respond best to this medication appear to have more severe abnormalities in their beta endorphin levels (Bouvard et al., 1995). Overall, the research suggests that the endogenous opioid system, which is important in the reward aspects of affiliation, may also play a role in the neurobiology of autism. 

A potential limitation of most of the controlled studies discussed above relates to the numerous exclusion criteria used for patient selection. For example, in order to find homogenous samples, major depression, bipolar disorder, Tourette s disorder, psychosis (clomipramine, fluvoxamine and fluoxetine trials), primary psychiatric disorder other than OCD (clomipramine and sertraline trials), and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, or other developmental disorders (clomipramine and fluoxetine trials) were excluded. Thus it remains unknown how well these controlled studies will generalize to more naturalistic clinical populations that are highly comorbid and where exclusion criteria are not applied. 

Handen, B.L., Johnson, C.R., and Lubetsky, M. (2000) Efficacy of methylphenidate among childten with autism and symptoms of attention-deficit hypetactivity disotdet. J Autism Dev Disord 30 245-255. 

The co-3 fatty acids have numerous important functions, especially in the brain. Accordingly, a deficiency of DHA and EPA may cause dysfunction of the central nervous system and probably also the retina, thereby resulting in impaired vision. In addition, there is a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders that have been associated with decreased levels of especially DHA and AA, such as, for example, schizophrenia and depression [3], post-traumatic stress syndrome, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Since no primary inherited defect of essential fatty acid interconversion has yet been described, no specific explanations for the essential fatty acid concentration changes are readily available. 

Dealing with the problem behavior of children with autism or ADHD by prescribing neuroleptics, according to some, has much in common with the treatment of the elderly. Although stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) have been reportedly prescribed to large numbers of children and received much media attention, other psychotropic (mind-altering) drugs, such as the neuroleptics, are also prescribed. However, there... 

Neuroleptic drugs have been prescribed for children in the treatment of psychotic disorders, Tourette s syndrome, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, behavioral and psychiatric complications of mental retardation, and pervasive developmental disorders, for example infantile autism (580,581). 

Keywords Dopamine transporter Norepinephrine transporter Serotonin transporter Polymorphism Attention deficit h5rperactivity disorder Parkinson s disease Addiction Anxiety Depression Autism... 

Cook EH, Leventhtil BL (1996) The serotonin system in autism. Curr Opin Pediatr 8 348-354 Cook EH Jr., Stein MA, Krasowski MD, Cox NJ, Olkon DM, Kieffer JE, Leventhal BL (1995) Association of attention-deficit disorder and the dopamine transporter gene. Am J Hum Genet 56 993-998... 

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