Date
8-29-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Ralph Lecounte Ogburn
Keywords
High-Functioning Autism, autism, Low-Impact autism, psychotropic medications, adverse effects, arson, psychosis, aggression, violence, comorbidity, suicidal ideation
Disciplines
Psychiatry and Psychology
Recommended Citation
Butler, Angela N., "Low-Impact Functioning Autism and Psychotropic Medications" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7372.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7372
Abstract
From the onset of the discovery of its existence, studies provided additional information pertaining to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its influences on a child’s growth, everyday performance, including the capability to interrelate with people. Studies on appropriate medications to prescribe to ASD youth have yielded questionable results. Objective: This study’s purpose was to address adverse effects as an overall issue and re-evaluation of the psychotropic medications prescribed to Low-Impact ASD (LIASD) youth. Additionally, this study examined the process of diagnosing and supporting the reclassification of autism. Method: A mixed-methods design was employed, to review prescribed medications and determine the relationship between them and observed behaviors. A questionnaire provided to the parents and youth addressed specified mannerisms and adverse effects before and after ingesting psychotropic medications. Results: Quantitative data revealed that the autistic youth were exhibiting behaviors similar to mental health (MH) diagnoses, causing misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatments. Qualitative data revealed that the autistic youth were experiencing adverse effects that non-ASD youth were not experiencing, such as increased aggression, psychosis, self-harm, and fire-related behaviors. The findings highlight the need for autism-focused training for MH providers for diagnostic accuracy and to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis among youth. The results also support the development of autism-informed prescribing guidelines to minimize adverse reactions and to ensure safer, more appropriate use of psychotropic medications in neurodivergent populations.
