Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice
07:41

Video Imaging and Spatiotemporal Maps to Analyze Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice

Published on: February 3, 2016

13.9K

Gastrointestinal, Behaviour and Anxiety Outcomes in Autistic Children Following an Open Label, Randomised Pilot Study

Leanne K Mitchell1, Helen S Heussler2,3,4, Christopher J Burgess2,5

  • 1Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia. leanne.mitchell@uq.edu.au.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|October 17, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Synbiotics alone or with gut-directed hypnotherapy significantly improved gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic children. Gut-directed hypnotherapy additionally reduced anxiety and irritability, supporting its use alongside synbiotics for autism spectrum disorder and gut-brain interaction disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neurogastroenterology
  • Microbiome research
  • Developmental pediatrics

Background:

  • Alterations in the microbiome-gut-brain axis are linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI).
  • DGBI are common in autistic children, exacerbating behavioral issues and anxiety.
  • Probiotics, prebiotics, and gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH) show promise for improving gut symptoms in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of synbiotics versus synbiotics plus GDH in improving gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in children with ASD over 12 weeks, with follow-up at 24 weeks.
  • To assess the impact of these interventions on behavioral and anxiety symptoms.
  • To explore changes in gut microbiome composition as a secondary objective.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 40 children with ASD (aged 5.00-10.99 years) allocated to either synbiotics (SYN group) or synbiotics + GDH (COM group) for 12 weeks.
  • Primary outcome: change in total GI scores.
  • Secondary outcomes: changes in anxiety, irritability, and GI pain scores; exploratory analysis of gut microbiota composition.

Main Results:

  • Both groups showed significant reductions in total GI scores post-intervention and at follow-up (p < 0.001), with no significant difference between SYN and COM groups.
  • The COM group demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety (p = 0.002) and irritability (p < 0.001), which were not observed in the SYN group.
  • Only the COM group maintained significant reductions in GI pain scores at follow-up (p < 0.001).
  • Significant changes in gut microbiota, including increases in Bifidobacterium animalis and Dialister, were observed in both groups.

Conclusions:

  • Synbiotics, with or without GDH, can effectively improve GI symptoms in children with ASD and comorbid DGBI.
  • Combining synbiotics with GDH offers additional benefits for anxiety and irritability in this population.
  • These interventions may serve as valuable adjuncts to standard care for autistic children experiencing gut-brain interaction issues.

Keywords:
Asperger’sAutismFunctional gastrointestinal disordersGut disordersGut-brain

More Related Videos

Intracerebroventricular Delivery of Gut-Derived Microbial Metabolites in Freely Moving Mice07:49

Intracerebroventricular Delivery of Gut-Derived Microbial Metabolites in Freely Moving Mice

Published on: June 2, 2022

3.1K
Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet07:05

Behavioral Disturbances: An Innovative Approach to Monitor the Modulatory Effects of a Nutraceutical Diet

Published on: January 3, 2017

8.8K

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
72
Behavior Therapy01:22

Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
43
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
55
Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
51
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern01:29

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
81