55 Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

The aim of this study was to identify the types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) being used for children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) in southern Alberta, and the reasons reported for use in this population.

This was a cross-sectional survey with a study population of children diagnosed with any ASD in the previous 10-years in southern Alberta. Identification of these children was accomplished through a number of overlapping patient recruitment sites. Data was collected through the use of a self-report questionnaire developed for this study concerning the use of CAM, which was piloted initially with three families. Data were collected via mail-out of 500 questionnaires on two separate occasions, to an expected target population of 400.

183 questionnaires were returned with a response rate of approximately 46%. The overall rate of use of any type of CAM for children with ASD was 94%. The median number of therapies used was 7, and the range was from 1 to 80. Preliminary analysis showed that the most common types of CAM used were mind-body therapies such as sensory integration (43.8%), music therapy (33%), and auditory integration (19.9%), the most common spiritual therapy was prayer (36%), the most common body therapy was massage (28%), the most common dietary or nutritional therapies were gluten-free diets (22.2%), casein-free diets (21.6%), low sugar diets (18.8%), Lactobacillus supplements (18.2%), vitamin C (15.3%), omega-3-fatty acids (15.9%), magnesium (14.8%), and dimethylglycine (13.1%). The most common reasons reported for the use of CAM in this population were to improve the child's autistic symptoms (44%), to improve the child's mental and emotional well being (39%), and to improve the child's general health (37%). Other common reasons cited for CAM use were a belief that it could not hurt their child (29%), because conventional medicine did not have any answers or treatment options (23%), to take charge of the health of their child (21%), and a belief in a holistic approach to health (21%).

Results from this study indicate that CAM use in children with ASD is common. Further research is needed with respect to the safety and efficacy of these treatments. Future research should be guided, in part, by the treatment priorities identified by this study.