Use of complementary and alternative medicine in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review

Abstract

Despite limited evidence, complementary and alternative medicine treatments are popular in autism spectrum disorder. The aim of this review was to summarize the available evidence on complementary and alternative medicine use frequency in autism spectrum disorder. A systematic search of three electronic databases was performed. All research studies in English or German reporting data on the frequency of complementary and alternative medicine use in individuals with autism spectrum disorder were included. Two independent reviewers searched the literature, extracted information on study design and results, and assessed study quality using an established quality assessment tool. Twenty studies with a total of 9540 participants were included. The prevalence of any complementary and alternative medicine use ranged from 28% to 95% (median: 54%). Special diets or dietary supplements (including vitamins) were the most frequent complementary and alternative medicine treatments, ranking first in 75% of studies. There was some evidence for a higher prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine use in autism spectrum disorder compared to other psychiatric disorders and the general population. Approximately half of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder use complementary and alternative medicine. Doctors should be aware of this and should discuss complementary and alternative medicine use with patients and their carers, especially as the evidence is mixed and some complementary and alternative medicine treatments are potentially harmful.

Identification, Evaluation, and Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Primary care providers are often asked about nonstandard interventions that are used in integrative practice or are promoted on the Internet, in the popular press, by other families, and by celebrities. [511][512][513][514][515][516] The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health maintains a Web site in which current information on novel therapies in popular use for people with ASD is reviewed. 517 In the past decade, an increasing number of interventions based on theories of causation of ASD that are, as yet, unproven have been examined in clinical trials.…”

Features of the nutrition for the autism spectrum disorders

“…Одним зі способів боротьби з системним запаленням, викликаним синдромом підвищеної кишкової проникності при багатьох захворюваннях, включаючи хвороби нервової системи, є безглютенова дієта, що не містить казеїну [41]. Існують припущення про патогенетичну роль молочних глютену і казеїну в розвитку шизофренії [16,29]. Ці припущення базуються на тому, що вказані інгредієнти призводять до надмірного накопичення екзорфінів у лікворі, що клінічно може проявитись симптомами шизофренії, аутизму.…”

Service Use Classes Among School-aged Children From the Autism Treatment Network Registry

“…15,18 Stimulants are the most commonly used psychotropic medication. 17,18 Estimates of CHA use vary widely for children with ASD, ranging from 28% 19 to 95% 20 (median = 54%), 21 with special diets and supplements being the most frequently used CHA. 21 Children with ASD may use multiple services 17,19,22 ; however, little research has identified service use patterns and related characteristics among children with ASD.…”

“…17,18 Estimates of CHA use vary widely for children with ASD, ranging from 28% 19 to 95% 20 (median = 54%), 21 with special diets and supplements being the most frequently used CHA. 21 Children with ASD may use multiple services 17,19,22 ; however, little research has identified service use patterns and related characteristics among children with ASD. Rather, past research has been focused on specific services used (eg, psychotropic medication), [14][15][16][17][18][19]23,24 the number of services, 17 weekly service hours, 14,25,26 and/or certain combinations of services used (eg, behavioral intervention and schoolbased therapy).…”