J Pediatr

ObjectivesTo explore how many pre-school aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) used psychotropic medication, child and geographic factors associated with psychotropic medication use, and how many children who used psychotropic medication did or did not ever receive behavior therapy.Study designChildren 2\u20135 years of age were enrolled from 2012 to 2016 in a multisite case-control study designed to investigate the development and risk factors of ASD. Children with a positive ASD screen or ASD diagnosis upon enrollment were asked to complete a comprehensive evaluation to determine ASD status and developmental level. Caregivers completed a Services and Treatments Questionnaire and multiple self-administered questionnaires to determine child use of psychotropic medication, ever receipt of behavior therapy, and presence of co-occurring symptoms.ResultsThere were 763 children who were classified as ASD and had data collected on the Services and Treatments Questionnaire. Of those, 62 (8.1%) used psychotropic medication to treat behavioral symptoms and 28 (3.7%) were 643 years of age when medication was first started. Attention problems (aOR, 7.65; 95% CI, 3.41\u201316.1; P < .001) and study site (aOR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.04\u20136.56; P = .04) were significantly associated with psychotropic medication use after controlling for maternal race/ethnicity. More than one-half (59.7%) of those who used psychotropic medication did not ever receive behavior therapy.ConclusionsMany preschool-aged children with ASD who use psychotropic medication do not receive behavior therapy. Pediatricians are an important resource for children and families and can help facilitate behavioral treatment for children with ASD and other disorders.U01 DD000757/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United StatesU10 DD000901/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United StatesU01DD000746/ACL/ACL HHS/United StatesU01DD001216/ACL/ACL HHS/United StatesU01 DD000749/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United StatesCC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/United StatesU01DD000750/ACL/ACL HHS/United StatesU01 DD000748/DD/NCBDD CDC HHS/United States2021-06-03T00:00:00Z33493493PMC81745279760vault:3712