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Beta blockers remain essential pharmacological agents in the management and treatment of cardiovascular and endocrine conditions. With little risk of dependence and high target selectivity, recent clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of beta blockers alongside current treatment guidelines for intellectual disabilities and psychiatric conditions where first-line therapies have failed. Current research suggests that beta blockers may alleviate the motor and psychiatric symptoms present in intellectual disabilities through CNS or peripheral blockade of sympathetic hyperactivity (Connor et al. 1997). As such, beta blockers may act as a potential adjuvant therapy towards the management and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Among autistic patients, 30% exhibit anxiety, irritability, and self-injury comorbidities, which previous pharmacological studies targeted for treatment. Recent studies showed beta blockers,...
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Kopel, J. (2018). Beta-Adrenergic Blockers. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102061-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102061-1
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