Quality standard
Quality statement 6: Treating the core features of autism: medication
Quality statement 6: Treating the core features of autism: medication
Quality statement
Autistic people are not prescribed medication to address the core features of autism.
Rationale
Drug treatments have been shown to be ineffective in addressing the core features of autism. They also carry significant potential risks.
Quality measures
The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that autistic people are not prescribed medication to address the core features of autism.
Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example, from service protocols.
Process
The proportion of autistic people who are prescribed medication to address the core features of autism.
Numerator – the number in the denominator who are prescribed medication to address the core features of their autism.
Denominator – the number of autistic people.
Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example, from patient records.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers work with their clinical staff to ensure that medication is not prescribed to address the core features of autism.
Health and social care practitioners ensure that they do not prescribe medication to address the core features of autism, and consider other treatments such as psychosocial interventions.
Commissioners ensure that they commission services in which staff do not prescribe medication to address the core features of autism, and that other treatments, such as psychosocial interventions, are available.
Autistic people are not prescribed medication to treat the main signs of autism.
Source guidance
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Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management. NICE guideline CG170 (2013, updated 2021), recommendation 1.3.2
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Autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline CG142 (2012, updated 2021), recommendations 1.4.13, 1.4.16, 1.4.21 and 1.4.22
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Medication not recommended for the core features of autism
This includes:
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antipsychotics
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antidepressants
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anticonvulsants
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drugs designed to improve cognitive functioning (for example, cholinesterase inhibitors).
It should be noted that statement 8 in this quality standard refers to populations for which, in certain circumstances, medication may be appropriate for the short-term treatment of behaviour that challenges. [Adapted from NICE's guideline on autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management, recommendation 1.3.2, and NICE's guideline on autism spectrum disorder in adults: diagnosis and management, recommendations 1.4.13, 1.4.16, 1.4.21 and 1.4.22].
Core features of autism
The core features of autism are described as qualitative differences and impairments in reciprocal social interaction and social communication, combined with restricted and stereotyped interests and activities, and rigid and repetitive behaviours. [Adapted from NICE's guideline on autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management, introduction]