Melatonin appears to be safe for long-term use in autistic children who have difficulty sleeping.

Aripiprazole, marketed as Abilify, is widely thought to be safer than risperidone, the only other drug approved for use in autistic children. A decade’s worth of data suggests that is not true.

Many clinical trials, including those related to autism, do not report their results within a year of their completion.

Many people with autism have difficulty falling and staying asleep, but there may be ways to help them.

Many people with autism experience a triad of trauma: neglect at home, abuse from trusted adults and bullying at school or work.

Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors constitute one of two criteria that define autism in the diagnostic manual for psychiatry.

Few of the most popular early treatments for autism are supported by strong evidence, according to two new studies.

Some scientists say an immune condition called PANDAS affects as many as 1 in 200 children who have traits similar to those of autism. But many experts contest that figure — and even the condition’s very existence.

This year’s hot topics in autism research center around brain organoids, heart rate, the gut microbiome, treatment timing and early detection.

Here are seven Spectrum stories from this year that deserve a close look.