Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may someday see relief from disruptive behaviors associated with ASD, thanks to cannabidiol (CBD) extract treatments, according to research presented at the 2025 European Congress of Psychiatry (EPA).
About 1 in 100 children are estimated to have ASD. Children and teens with the disorder often have difficulty interpreting language and expressing emotions. They also sometimes cause disruptions, for instance, by repeating certain words or behaviors.
Current treatments for autism fall into two categories: medication and behavior. Neither has demonstrated large-scale efficacy.
Medications to treat ASD include anti-anxiety and antipsychotic drugs, as well as stimulants. But these medications’ efficacy vary widely from patient to patient. They also don’t appear to control anti-social behavior and often come with side effects.
Behavioral treatments for ASD tend to focus on applied behavior analysis (ABA). That treatment leans into a patient’s strengths or obsessions and uses constant ...
