Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Evidence Table. Therapies for children with ASD (continued)
Study
Inclusion/ Exclusion
Description Intervention
herbal and homeopathic
Criteria/ Population
products):
G1: 33
Race/ethnicity: NR
G2: 27
SES:
Maternal education: NR
Munasinghe et al.
2010 (continued)
Prescription medication
(methylphenidate,
clonidine, sodium
valproate, risperidone,
trimeprazine tartrate,
dexchlorpheniramine,
inhaled cromolyn,
salbutamol, fluticasone
proprionate, topical
corticosteroids, laxatives):
G1: 43
G2: 45
Special diet (gluten and
casein free, gluten free,
organic foods only, eggfree
and low sugar):
G1: 10
G2: 27
Multivitamins:
G1: 14
G2: 14
N at enrollment:
G1: 21
G2: 22
N at follow-up:
G1: 11
G2: 16
Household income: NR
Diagnostic approach:
Referral
Diagnostic tool/method:
DSM IV
Diagnostic category, %:
Autism:
G1: 90
G2: 86
PDD-NOS:
G1: 10
G2: 14
Other characteristics: NR
C-17
Baseline
Measures Outcomes
0.62
G1b+G2a: 4.06 ±
0.45
P = 0.02
GEE comparison
of treatment to
placebo: P = 0.02
ARS,
Gastrointestinal
symptoms score,
mean ± SD:
G1a+G2b: 4.01 ±
0.68
G1b+G2a: 3.87 ±
0.36
P = 0.34
GEE comparison
of treatment to
placebo: P = 0.41
Sleep quality
score, mean ±
SD:
G1a+G2b: 3.95 ±
0.75
G1b+G2a: 3.87 ±
0.56
P = 0.61
GEE comparison
of treatment to
placebo: P = 0.74
Harms
No serious effects
reported ; 2
children
withdrawn by
parents due to
increased
irritability,
aggression,
inattentiveness (1
on treatment, 1 on
placebo);
problems
persisted after
treatment
discontinuation
2 children
withdrawn from
study due to
irritability and
difficulty engaging
in the classroom
(authors note
changing family