Autism Spectrum DisorderAutism is a spectrum of brain disorders that appear early in life, usually between the ages of 2 to 6 years. Symptoms vary, but can include poor social interactions, repetitive actions, and interests that are not typical. There is no cure for autism. Treatment can help reduce some symptoms. Current treatments include school programs, therapies, counseling, and medication. Alternative treatments may help manage symptoms, but there is often a lack of data to support them. Natural TherapiesThe following therapies focus on reducing symptoms. Likely Effective
Possibly EffectiveThe following therapies may help manage some symptoms when used as part of a treatment plan. No single alternative or traditional treatment is helpful for all symptoms.
Possibly Not Effective
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process. Herbs and Supplements to Be Used With CautionTalk to your doctor about all herbs or supplements you are taking. Some may interact with your treatment plan or health conditions. Some supplements discussed here have certain concerns such as:
References►Acupuncture A1. Cheuk DK, Wong, V, et al. Acupuncture for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011 Sep 7;(9):CD007849. Diet B1. Elder JH, Shankar M, Shuster J et al. The Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet In Autism: Results of A Preliminary Double Blind Clinical Trial. J Autism Dev Disord . 2006 Mar 23 [Epub ahead of print]. B2. Millward C, Ferriter M, Calver S, Connell-Jones G. Gluten- and casein-free diets for autistic spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2008;(2):CD003498. Supplements C1. Andersen IM, Kaczmarska J, et al. Melatonin for insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders. J Child Neurol. 2008 May;23(5):482-5. doi: 10.1177/0883073807309783. Epub 2008 Jan 8. C2. Coniglio SJ, Lewis JD, Lang C, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of single-dose intravenous secretin as treatment for children with autism. J Pediatr. 2001;138:649–655. C3. Corbett B, Khan K, Czapansky-Beilman D, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study investigating the effect of porcine secretin in children with autism. Clin Pediatr. 2001;40:327–331. C4. Dunn-Geier J, Ho HH, Auersperg E, et al. Effect of secretin on children with autism: a randomized controlled trial. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2000;42:796–802. C5. Garstang J, Wallis M. Randomized controlled trial of melatonin for children with autistic spectrum disorders and sleep problems. Child Care Health Dev. 2006 Sep;32(5):585-9. C6. Molloy CA, Manning-Courtney P, Swayne S, et al. Lack of benefit of intravenous synthetic human secretin in the treatment of autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2002;32:545–551:2nd CD. C7. Nye C, Brice A. Combined vitamin B6-magnesium treatment in autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005 Oct 19;(4):CD003497. C8. Owley T, Steele E, Corsello C, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of secretin for the treatment of autistic disorder. MedGenMed. 1999;6:E2. C9. Rimland B, Callaway E, Dreyfus P. The effect of high doses of vitamin B 6 on autistic children: a double-blind crossover study. Am J Psychiatry. 1978;135:472–475. C10. Roberts W, Weaver L, Brian J, et al. Repeated doses of porcine secretin in the treatment of autism: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2001;107:E71. C11. Rossignol DA, Frye RE. Melatonin in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol 2011 Sep;53(9):783. C12. Rossignol DA, Frye RE. Melatonin in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2011 Apr 19. C13. Sponheim E, Oftedal G, Helverschou SB. Multiple doses of secretin in the treatment of autism: a controlled study. Acta Paediatr. 2002;91:540–545. C14. Unis AS, Munson JA, Rogers SJ, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine versus synthetic secretin for reducing symptoms of autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002;41:1315–1321. Other Therapies D1. Auditory integration training and facilitated communication for autism. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Children with Disabilities. Pediatrics 1998 Aug;102(2):431). D2. Field T, Lasko D, Mundy P, et al. Brief report: autistic children's attentiveness and responsivity improve after touch therapy. J Autism Dev Disord . 1997;27:333–338. D3. Geretsegger M, Elefant C, et al. Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014 Jun 17;(6):CD004381. D4. Lee MS, Kim JI, Ernst E. Massage therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011;72(3):406-411. D5. Sinha Y, Silove N, et al. Auditory integration training and other sound therapies for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011 Dec 7;(12):CD003681. Last reviewed February 2019 by EBSCO NAT Review Board
Richard Glickman-Simon, MD Last Updated: 2/22/2019 | |
EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation. This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition. To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days. | |