What Researchers Did
Researchers reviewed and categorized complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on their efficacy and safety to provide practical guidance for practitioners.
What They Found
The review categorized treatments into four groups: recommended, monitored, tolerated, and avoided, with "recommended" therapies requiring support from two or more randomized, controlled trials. Five therapies were recommended, including applied behavior analysis and melatonin for sleep, while medications and restrictive diets were advised to be monitored due to side effects. Three therapies, chelation, secretin, and hyperbaric oxygen, were recommended to be avoided due to their risks, costs, and limited evidence of efficacy.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with autism spectrum disorder and their families can use this guidance to discuss evidence-based complementary and alternative treatments with their healthcare providers. It highlights the importance of focusing on therapies with proven efficacy and safety, while being cautious about those with limited evidence or potential risks.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a review article, this study's conclusions are dependent on the quality and scope of the existing literature it synthesized.