Nicotinic Cholinergic Modulation as a Novel Treatment Strategy for Aggression Associated With Autism

Inclusion criteria: * Age: 18-60 * Gender: All * Language: Communicative in English * Participants with a prior diagnosis of DSM-5 ASD at some point in their lifetime OR a DSM-4 diagnosis of Autism OR a DSM-4 diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome OR a DSM-4 diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. * Symptoms of irritability, agitation or aggression as reported by parent and/or participant * Aberrant behavior checklist - Irritability Subscale (ABC-I) score of 16 or higher * No changes in psychotropic medications within the past 14 days. * Either lives with a primary caregiver or closely engaged with a primary caregiver who interacts with the patient daily * BMI \> 17.5 and \< 45 Exclusion criteria: * Age \< 18 or \> 60 * BMI \< 17.5 or \> 45 * Currently using tobacco or any nicotine products (transdermal, gum, e-cigarettes) * Changes in psychotropic medication management within the past 14 days * Previous allergy to transdermal patches * Patients with heart rate \> 100 or \< 50 or known history of cardiac rhythm abnormalities * Systolic blood pressure \> 150 or \< 95; diastolic blood pressure \> 90 or \< 50 * No symptoms of irritability, agitation, or aggression as reported by parent and/or participant * ABC-I score of less than 16 * No primary caregiver, or primary caregiver unable to assist with rating scales