Lithium shows promise for autism social deficits in small trial

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Children under 18 years of age * Minimum weight of 20 kg for children aged 7 years old * Patient with haplo deficiency SHANK3, i.e. carrier of a SHANK3 deletion (CNV) or a de novo truncating mutation in SHANK3 (Phelan McDermid syndrome); * Total Social Responsiveness Scale - T score (SRS) of at least 66 * Patients of childbearing age who are sexually active must agree to use a highly effective form of contraception (estrogen-progestin or progestin-only contraception, or an intrauterine device, or contraceptive abstinence). * Affiliation to a social security system * Signature of the consent by the holders of parental authority * Non-participation in another clinical trial * Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (DSM-5 criteria) confirmed by Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS-II) * IQ Assessment * Beta-HCG negative Exclusion Criteria: * Hepatic or renal insufficiency (disturbed liver function tests, abnormal creatinine clearance); * Unbalanced thyroid or diabetic pathology; * Cardiac pathology: Brugada syndrome or family history of Brugada syndrome, heart failure; * Addison's disease; * Unstable epileptic disease. * Patient with concomitant diseases judged for which the experimental treatment with Li + could compromise tolerance ; * History of allergy to Li+; * Allergy to lactose, lactose being the sole diluent and excipient of the prepared form. * Initiation of co-occurring cognitive-behavioural therapy that is specifically focused on autistic symptoms within 6 weeks prior to inclusion; * Any introduction of psychotropic drugs within 2 weeks prior to trial, including neuroleptics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, stimulants, antidepressants. For neuroleptic drugs and Fluoxetine, this delay should be 4 weeks prior to the trial; * Serious behavioural problems or refusal to take medication that does not allow for compliance; * Inability to perform blood tests to check lithemia when the patient is included.