Age-Dependent Restraint Patterns in Pediatric Emergency Department Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder

A retrospective study of 3,469 pediatric ED patients found that autistic youth aged 9+ years were significantly more likely to experience physical restraint compared to non-autistic peers with psychiatric needs, with pharmacologic restraint elevated across all age groups. The findings suggest current ED protocols inadequately account for developmental differences in autism presentations and highlight the need for age-tailored approaches.