Autism Spectrum Disorder and Complementary-Integrative Medicine

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM)

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 0.6%-1.7% of children, with core symptoms of social-communication deficits and restricted interests.
• Co-occurring irritability, hyperactivity, and insomnia in ASD negatively impact adaptive functioning and quality of life.
• Current FDA-approved pharmacologic agents for ASD target irritability, not core symptoms, and carry significant side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review popular complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) treatments used by families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• To discuss the perceived efficacy and safety of these CIM treatments.
• To provide clinical recommendations based on available data and established criteria.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Analysis of survey data on CIM usage rates and perceived effectiveness.
• Evaluation of treatments using SECS (Safety, Efficacy, Cost, and Sustainability) versus RUDE (Risks, Uncertainty, Data, and Efficacy) criteria.

Main Results:

• 27% to 88% of families report using CIM treatments for ASD.
• Frequently used CIM treatments include multivitamins, elimination diets, and Methyl B12 injections.
• Perceived most effective CIM treatments are sensory integration, melatonin, and antifungals.

Conclusions:

• Families increasingly turn to CIM for ASD due to limited conventional treatment options and perceived safety.
• Physicians should enhance their knowledge of CIM to better support families.
• Further research with high-quality data is needed to establish the efficacy and safety of many CIM treatments for ASD.