Updates in Management of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review

Abstract

Autism is a neurodevelopmental illness marked by confined repetitive behaviour, poor social interaction, and difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication. Despite advances in early detection and intervention, no therapy has yet been shown to entirely correct autism's basic symptoms. People with ASD have various strengths and challenges, as well as diverse treatment requirements, because ASD impacts each individual differently. Autism is presently treated with the majority of behavioural therapies in conjunction with pharmaceutical therapy. Behavioral intervention can reduce behavioural issues and enhance language, cognitive, adaptive, and social abilities; however, the effect is not stable and requires substantial cooperation between families, communities, and schools. Some of the medicines commonly used to treat anxiety, ADHD symptoms, compulsions, and other repeated behaviours, as well as mood instability, irritability, aggression, and sleep problems, are antidepressants, stimulants, antipsychotics, alpha agonists, and anticonvulsants. The relevance of pharmaceutical therapy for ASD-related co-morbid disorders grows with age. These medications, which include stimulants and antipsychotics, are critical in the clinical management of ASD patients. However, when the genes causing the ASD are known and the neurobiology and prospective targeted treatments were investigated to restore the neurobiological defects at least in animal models, the development of targeted medicines for subgroups of ASD has led to numerous recent successes in patients, as reported here.