Autism Studies and Related Medical Conditions, January 2009 - TACA

with children and adolescents with celiac disease. The schizophrenic and other
psychotic patients could be subdivided into two groups, one that responded in the
leukocyte migration inhibition factor test as the celiac patients did and one that
responded as the normal control subjects did. The psychotic and schizophrenic patients
did not show any evidence of malabsorption. The authors speculate that gluten may be
involved in biological processes in the brain in certain psychotic individuals.
O'Banion D, Armstrong B, Cummings RA, Stange J.: Disruptive behavior: a
dietary approach. J Autism Child Schizophr 1978 Sep;8(3):325-37.
Abstract: The effect of particular foods on levels of hyperactivity, uncontrolled laughter,
and disruptive behaviors was studied in an 8-year-old autistic boy. The floor of the
child's room was taped off into six equal-sized rectangles to measure general activity
level. Frequency data were recorded on screaming, biting, scratching, and object
throwing. A time-sample technique was used to record data on laughing. Data were
gathered during four phases. During an initial 4-day period the child was fed a normal
American diet. A 6-day fasting period followed, during which time only spring water was
allowed. The third phase lasted 18 days and involved the presentation of individual
foods. During the final phase of the study the child was given only foods that had not
provoked a reaction in the third phase. Results showed that foods such as wheat, corn,
tomatoes, sugar, mushrooms, and dairy products were instrumental in producing
behavioral disorders with this child.
Singh MM, Kay SR: Wheat gluten as a pathogenic factor in schizophrenia. Science
1976 Jan 30;191(4225):401-2.
Abstract: Schizophrenics maintained on a cereal grain-free and milk-free diet and
receiving optimal treatment with neuropleptics showed an interruption or reversal of
their therapeutic progress during a period of "blind" wheat gluten challenge. The
exacerbation of the disease process was not due to variations in neuroleptic doses.
After termination of the gluten challenge, the course of improvement was reinstated.
The observed effects seemed to be due to a primary schizophrenia-promoting effect of
wheat gluten.
Dohan FC, Grasberger JC: Relapsed schizophrenics: earlier discharge from the
hospital after cereal-free, milk-free diet. Am J Psychiatry. 1973 Jun;130(6):685-8. [No
abstract available]
Goodwin MS, Cowen MA, Goodwin TC: Malabsorption and cerebral dysfunction: a
multivariate and comparative study of autistic children. J Autism Child Schizophr 1971
Jan-Mar;1(1):48-62. [No abstract available]
Dohan FC: "Is celiac disease a clue to pathogenesis of schizophrenia?" Mental Hyg
1969; 53: 525-529. [No abstract available]
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