In news that’s bound to disappoint many parents of autistic children, research out of Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington shows that Celexa is no more effective than a placebo in treating repetitive disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

It’s been widely thought that repetitive behaviors in autistic children — hand flapping, for example — are similar to obsessive compulsive behaviors. Celexa, the brand name for citalopram, has been prescribed successfully for obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Here’s the message to doctors from Dr. Bryan King, who led the multi-site clinical trial:

“Because citalopram showed no more benefit than placebo and it may produce side effects, providers need to carefully examine whether it is appropriately prescribed for repetitive behaviors in children with an ASD.”

The research comes out ahead of a two-day conference Thursday and Friday at Children’s Village in Yakima on autism spectrum disorders.

Aimed at specialists, the statewide conference features Dr. Dan Coury, medical director of the Autism Treatment Network, a group of physicians and hospitals that’s developing a model for comprehensive care for children and adolescents.

— Leah Beth Ward

Eagle-eyed water-quality specialists at the state Department of Health spotted an error in a posting last week on well-water testing:

The American Academy of Pediatrics said in a news release that water with a nitrate concentration of more than 1.0 milligrams should not be used to prepare infant formula. Well, that’s a typo. The federal standard is 10 milligrams per liter.