OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to examine rates of psychotropic 
medication use and identify associated child and family characteristics among 
children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) enrolled in an 
autism registry maintained by the Autism Treatment Network (ATN).
METHODS: The sample, derived from the ATN registry, consists of 2853 children 
aged 2 to 17 years with diagnoses of ASD supported by Diagnostic and Statistical 
Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, and the Autism Diagnostic 
Observation Schedule with available data on medication use. As part of initial 
enrollment in the registry, parents completed questionnaires on current 
psychotropic medication use, psychiatric and medical conditions, and 
demographics.
RESULTS: Of the 2853 children, 763 (27%) were taking ≥ 1 psychotropic 
medication; 15% were prescribed 1 medication, 7.4% received 2 medications, and 
4.5% received ≥ 3. Among children aged 3 to 5 years, 11% were taking ≥ 1 
psychotropic medication; among 6- to 11-year-old children, 46%; and 66% of 
adolescents aged 12 to 17 years were taking at ≥ 1 psychotropic medication. A 
parent report of comorbid diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 
bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, or anxiety was 
associated with a high rate of use, with 80% receiving ≥ 1 psychotropic 
medication. Only 15% of children with no comorbid psychiatric disorder were 
taking psychotropic medication. Psychotropic medication use was also related to 
sleep and gastrointestinal problems.
CONCLUSIONS: The prescription of psychotropic medications in this registry 
sample is highly related to comorbid psychiatric disorder. Other factors 
associated with use include medical comorbidities, race, ethnicity, and older 
age.