Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Framework for Integrative Pediatric Medicine

2020 ◽  
pp. 378-401
Author(s):  
Hatha Gbedawo

Autism spectrum disorders are complex, diverse neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders that are characterized by the presence of impaired social communication with restricted stereotypical patterns of behavior and interests. The cause remains elusive and multifactorial, including a sophisticated interplay of genetics and environmental factors. Standard treatment options are limited to behavioral therapies, including applied behavioral analysis, and pharmacological treatment for significant behaviors such as aggression. Families are increasingly turning to alternative medical practices for support in managing their children’s care. By using an integrative medical model with a focus on investigating for and treating underlying inflammation and oxidative stress, integrative practitioners can help families navigate the complex world of autism management and treatment.

Author(s):  
Ilker Ozsahin ◽  
Mubarak T Mustapha ◽  
Safa Albarwary ◽  
Burcin Sanlidag ◽  
Dilber Uzun Ozsahin ◽  
...  

Aim: Autism spectrum disorder is a class of neurological disorders that affect the development of brain functions. This study aims to evaluate, compare and rank the therapy techniques used in the management of autism spectrum disorder using multicriteria decision-making approaches. Materials & methods: Fuzzy PROMETHEE and fuzzy TOPSIS approaches were used. Fuzzy PROMETHEE utilizes a pair-wise comparison of alternatives under the fuzzy environment while fuzzy TOPSIS utilizes geometric distance from the positive ideal solution under the fuzzy environment for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the alternatives.The techniques selected for evaluation are applied behavioral analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, speech therapy and pharmacological therapy such as Risperidone and Aripiprazole. Criteria used in this study include efficacy, cost and side effects, and their weights are assigned based on specific patient conditions. Results: The results indicate that applied behavioral analysis, cognitive behavioral therapy and speech therapy are the most preferred techniques, followed by Aripiprazole and Risperidone. Conclusion: More criteria could be considered and the weights could be assigned according to the patient profile.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 240-246
Author(s):  
Akila S ◽  
Priyadharsni P ◽  
Charu Nivedita M

In the recent past there is an increasing awareness on care for special needs population in India. Among all the disabilities Autism is gaining lot of attention and is found to be of most mainly due to the behavioral deviations of children. It is very important to identify children with autism as early as possible. This article being a scientific paper is being translated in Tamil to create awareness among the urban and rural families about autism, its identification, screening, diagnosis and intervention programs for children with autism. One among the most important traditional, natural, side effect free intervention is Yoga. Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by repetitive and characteristic patterns of behavior and difficulties with social communication and interaction. The symptoms are present from early childhood and affect daily functioning. Evidence-based treatment options for Autism are limited. The objective of this investigation was to examine the effect of Yoga on selected physical fitness variables of children with autism. 20 high functional autistic children between 6 - 13 years were into yoga intervention for 6 weeks. Initial and final testing on physical fitness variables such as flexibility, coordination and strength were conducted. After of the training period post test was conducted on the dependent variables for both the groups. Based on the results it was concluded that the implication of Yoga practice might have been the source of its dominance on the improvement of physical fitness variables of children with autism.


2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 355-355
Author(s):  
A. Soltanifar ◽  
M. Hojati ◽  
A. Mashhadi ◽  
P. Reebye

IntroductionSeveral approaches have been presented for treatment of children with ASD. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of Holistic Multidimensional Treatment Model (HMTM) with Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) in the improvement of clinical symptoms of children with ASD.MethodThe present study was an experimental pre and post test research. The statistical population included the 3 to 8 year old children with ASD who were referred to the child psychiatry clinics in two academic Hospitals- Mashhad,Iran. The sample included 20 children who were selected with convenience sampling and randomly divided to 2 groups of ABA (8 boys and 2 girls) and HMTM (7 boys and 3 girls).The diagnosis was made by a child psychiatrist based on DSM-IV-TR criteria and using Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADIR) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).Then the children were referred to Noore Hedayat center for the treatment. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Bender Gestalt Test, Draw-A-Man Test Good enough, Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices Test for children, Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS) and performance charts of children based on their videotaped behaviors. Data analysis was done using ANCOVA test.ResultsFindings showed that in spite of more efficacy of HMTM compared to ABA, the differences of standard tests except Bender Gestalt Test and performance charts did not reach to the significant level(p > 0.05).ConclusionIn conclusion, HMTM at least had the equal efficacy to ABA in the treatment of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Further researches are needed to compare the efficacy of these 2 methods.


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne W. Fisher ◽  
Cathleen C. Piazza ◽  
Michael E. Kelley ◽  
Henry S. Roane ◽  
Kevin C. Luczynski

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne W. Fisher ◽  
Cathleen C. Piazza ◽  
Michael E. Kelley ◽  
Henry S. Roane ◽  
Kevin C. Luczynski

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (31) ◽  
pp. 5119-5136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Carpita ◽  
Donatella Marazziti ◽  
Lionella Palego ◽  
Gino Giannaccini ◽  
Laura Betti ◽  
...  

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition strongly associated with genetic predisposition and familial aggregation. Among ASD patients, different levels of symptoms severity are detectable, while the presence of intermediate autism phenotypes in close relatives of ASD probands is also known in literature. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to environmental factors that might play a role in modulating the relationship between genomic risk and development and severity of ASD. Within this framework, an increasing body of evidence has stressed a possible role of both gut microbiota and inflammation in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopment. The aim of this paper is to review findings about the link between microbiota dysbiosis, inflammation and ASD. Methods: Articles ranging from 1990 to 2018 were identified on PUBMED and Google Scholar databases, with keyword combinations as: microbiota, immune system, inflammation, ASD, autism, broad autism phenotype, adult. Results: Recent evidence suggests that microbiota alterations, immune system and neurodevelopment may be deeply intertwined, shaping each other during early life. However, results from both animal models and human samples are still heterogeneous, while few studies focused on adult patients and ASD intermediate phenotypes. Conclusion: A better understanding of these pathways, within an integrative framework between central and peripheral systems, might not only shed more light on neural basis of ASD symptoms, clarifying brain pathophysiology, but it may also allow to develop new therapeutic strategies for these disorders, still poorly responsive to available treatments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-67
Author(s):  
Deah Jo Abbott ◽  
Caleb Wayne Lack

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent and most functionally impairing psychiatric problems experienced by the population. Both pharmacological and psychological evidencebased treatments exist for a number of specific disorders, but may fail to fully relieve symptoms, pointing to the need for additional treatment options. Often considered to be part of the “third wave” of cognitive-behavioral therapies, treatments incorporating mindfulness have emerged in the past two decades as increasingly popular with clinicians and frequently sought out by consumers. The present article reviews the extant literature regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of mindfulnessbased treatments for anxiety, worry, and related problems. Although they have not attained the solid empirical status of CBT or certain pharmacological treatments, the extant research shows mindfulness- based interventions appear to be a promising and useful treatment for people suffering from anxiety and worry. Further work should be done, levels 3-5 of the NIH stage model to determine whether or not they should be further implemented.


Author(s):  
Virginia Carter Leno ◽  
Emily Simonoff

Recent evidence suggests that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience depression at rates approximately four times greater than the general population. Co-occurring mood problems, including depressive and bipolar disorders, are associated with negative outcomes such as lower quality of life, increased adaptive behavior impairments, and greater service use. This chapter discusses what is known about the presentation of unipolar and bipolar depression in people with ASD and describes challenges to establishing sound prevalence estimates of mood disorders in ASD as they relate to methodological design issues and diagnostic assessment practices. It also provides an overview of potential vulnerability factors in the development of depression in this population; these areas of vulnerability include characteristics such as chronological age, cognitive ability, and ASD symptom severity, as well as those individual differences that may represent more direct mechanisms, for example, maladaptive coping styles, attentional biases, social reward profiles, and predisposition to rumination. The current research on interventions specifically designed to treat mood in people with ASD is very limited. However, promising treatments include adapted cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based approaches. Though most of this chapter focuses on unipolar depression in ASD as the more well-studied mood disorder, the chapter also summarizes the small research base on bipolar disorder in the context of ASD. It ends with a call for improved screening, assessment, and evidence-based treatment options to address this significant public health problem in this special population.


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