Autism: biomedical complementary treatment approaches

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2013 Jul;22(3):443-56, vi. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2013.03.002. Epub 2013 May 17.

Abstract

This article provides a conceptual overview for the use of biomedical complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for autism spectrum disorders. Pharmaceutical agents with published studies are briefly mentioned; but the focus of the article is on possible biomedical CAM treatments, the rationale for their use, and the current database of mostly preliminary studies regarding their safety and efficacy. Of the more than 50 treatments currently listed here and in use by eager families, 9 are reviewed in more detail because of their promise from preliminary research studies or because of public interest.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / therapeutic use
  • Central Nervous System Depressants / therapeutic use
  • Chelation Therapy
  • Child
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / drug therapy*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / physiopathology
  • Complementary Therapies / methods*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Melatonin / therapeutic use
  • Memantine / therapeutic use
  • Micronutrients / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin B 12 / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin B 12 / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Depressants
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Micronutrients
  • mecobalamin
  • Melatonin
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Memantine
  • Acetylcysteine