Researchers ran a 10-week trial at three US sites with 128 children aged 5 to 14 (mean age 8.1) who had autism spectrum disorder along with significant ADHD symptoms. Most were boys (85%). The children were split evenly into four groups: the medicine atomoxetine, atomoxetine plus parent training, a dummy pill plus parent training, or a dummy pill alone. About three quarters finished the trial (99 of 128).
Parents rated their child's ADHD symptoms. All three active groups did better than the dummy pill alone. The gains were larger in the two groups that took atomoxetine (effect sizes 0.68 to 0.84) than in the parent training group (0.46 to 0.60). More children counted as responders on atomoxetine too, close to half (46.9%) versus about one in five on the dummy pill (19.4%).
Atomoxetine also lowered rated noncompliance, whether taken alone or with parent training, while parent training alone did not clearly help there. Adding parent training to atomoxetine was not clearly better than atomoxetine on its own. More children on atomoxetine had reduced appetite (47% versus 28%).
The study leaned on rating scales, had no follow-up, and included almost no children who were not white. Anyone considering this medicine for a child should talk with a clinician about their own situation.
Source: Handen B, Aman M, Arnold L, et al.. Atomoxetine, Parent Training, and Their Combination in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (2015). doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2015.08.013