Social impairment/withdrawal, communication/language impairment, and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and stereotyped movements are the primary features of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Social and language impairments can be understood as arising out of defects in the normal encoding of these skills gained through interaction with the environment. None of the psychotropic medication classes evaluated thus far can repair or improve these impairments (Table, see page 571). On the other hand, stereotypical movements, such as hand flapping, can be increased by anxiety; thus, they theoretically can be targeted by available psychotropic medications. However, when anxiety treatments such as SSRIs have been studied in children with ASD and repetitive behaviors, the results have been disappointing or contradictory. 1, 2 To date, no psychotropic treatment can be said to have solid empirical support for the treatment of stereotypies in children with ASD.