PARIS, december 28, 2023 – A sweeping new analysis of over 10,000 autism patients reveals little scientific support for the widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, and raises serious concerns about a lack of safety data. The study, published in Nature Human Behavior, found that while many autistic individuals and their families turn to these therapies, evidence of their effectiveness is often missing.
Little evidence Supports Alternative Autism Treatments
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A thorough review of nearly 250 meta-analyses found weak or unreliable evidence for most complementary, alternative, and integrative medicines (CAIMs) used to treat autism.
- Researchers examined 19 different interventions,including animal therapy,acupuncture,and probiotics.
- Up to 90 percent of autistic individuals have tried at least one CAIM.
- Fewer than half of the treatments assessed had data on safety or potential side effects.
- An online platform was developed to help peopel evaluate the evidence behind these treatments.
Autistic individuals often face challenges with social dialogue, sensory processing, and repetitive behaviors, impacting their daily lives. This has led many parents and adults on the spectrum to explore alternative therapies, hoping for benefits without the drawbacks of conventional medicine. “Many parents of autistic children, as well as autistic adults, turn to complementary and alternative medicines hoping they may help without unwanted side effects,” says Professor Richard Delorme, Head of the Child and Adolescent psychiatry Unit at Robert Debré Hospital in Paris.
Though, determining whether these treatments truly help requires careful evaluation. The new study, led by researchers from Paris Nanterre University, Paris Cité University, and the University of Southampton, provides the most comprehensive look yet at the existing research.
How the Research Was Conducted
The team conducted an “umbrella review,” a method that combines the results of multiple meta-analyses – essentially, studies of studies – to get a broad overview of the evidence.”Rather than looking at individual trials, we reviewed all the available meta-analyses, which are a compilation of many trials. This allowed us to evaluate the full body of evidence across different treatments,” explains Dr. Corentin Gosling, Associate Professor at the Paris Nanterre University and first author of the study.
The analysis included 248 meta-analyses, drawing on data from 200 clinical trials involving more than 10,000 participants. Researchers evaluated 19 different types of CAIMs,including animal-assisted therapies,acupuncture,herbal medicine,music therapy,probiotics,and Vitamin D supplementation.
Safety Concerns Remain
while a few treatments showed hints of potential benefit, the researchers found that most were supported by weak or low-quality evidence. Perhaps more concerning, fewer than half of the treatments had been properly assessed for their safety, including potential side effects or tolerability.
Professor Samuele Cortese, NIHR Research Professor at the University of Southampton and co-senior author, emphasized the need for a holistic view of the evidence. “This study shows that when people want to know whether a treatment is effective, they shouldn’t just look at one single study.It’s essential to consider all the available evidence and how good that evidence is. Drawing conclusions from one low-quality study can be misleading.”
To help the public navigate this complex landscape, the research team also developed a free, online platform to explore the scientific evidence behind different CAIMs. The platform is available at https://ebiact-database.com.
The study,Complementary,alternative and integrative medicine for autism: an umbrella review and online platform,was funded by Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR).
