Autism Treatment Review Exposes Harmful and Ineffective Alternative Methods

Comprehensive Review of Autism Therapies Reveals Limited Evidence for Alternative Treatments

A landmark review of autism therapies has revealed that there is no strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of alternative treatments, and many have not been adequately evaluated for safety. This comprehensive analysis, conducted by researchers from Paris Nanterre University, Paris Cité University, and the University of Southampton, examined a wide range of interventions for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The study identified several treatments that showed some promise, but the evidence supporting them remains weak. Among these, oxytocin therapy emerged with the strongest supporting data. This experimental treatment involves administering the hormone oxytocin, often through a nasal spray, to improve social and behavioral challenges. While it was found to produce a small reduction in repetitive behaviors among autistic adults, it proved largely ineffective for other symptoms such as social communication impairments and overall symptom severity across different age groups.

In addition to oxytocin, other therapies such as music therapy and animal-assisted interventions for children, magnetic stimulation for adolescents, physical activity for adults, and melatonin for improving sleep in children showed significant effects. However, these findings were backed only by very low-quality evidence, raising concerns about their true efficacy.

Professor Richard Delorme, a co-author of the analysis, emphasized the importance of rigorous scientific evaluation before concluding that alternative treatments should be used. He noted that many parents of autistic children and autistic adults turn to complementary and alternative medicines in the hope of finding effective solutions without unwanted side effects.

Behavioral approaches remain the most extensively studied interventions for autism in children. These strategies involve reinforcement techniques to increase beneficial behaviors like communication and social skills while reducing harmful ones. The umbrella review encompassed 248 individual meta-analyses, synthesizing data from over 200 controlled clinical trials involving more than 10,000 autistic individuals.

The review evaluated the evidence for 19 complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine (CAIM) interventions, including oxytocin therapy, melatonin, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and physical activity. Other treatments considered included polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary supplements theorized to support brain health, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Brain stimulation techniques may help autism by modulating abnormal neural activity, either stimulating underactive areas or inhibiting overactive ones, and improving communication between brain regions involved in social, communication, and cognitive functions.

The research also looked into various other therapies such as secretin, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, various diets, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It found that, on average, 54 percent of autistic people use some form of CAIM, with some studies reporting figures as high as 92 percent over a person's lifetime. However, many studies and international clinical guidelines indicate a lack of efficacy—and, in some cases, adverse events—for this type of intervention in autism.

The analysis evaluated alternative treatments based on their impact on both core symptoms of autism and a wide range of associated behaviors. For core symptoms, the review included social communication impairments, restricted and repetitive behaviors, sensory challenges, and overall symptom severity. It also measured effects on key associated outcomes such as disruptive behaviors, co-occurring conditions, adaptive functioning, cognitive abilities, quality of life, and language skills.

Sleep quality and quantity were also analyzed as a secondary outcome of crucial importance, given the significance of sleep for autistic individuals and their families. Professor Samuele Cortese, NIHR Research Professor at the University of Southampton and co-senior author, emphasized the importance of considering all available evidence when evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment.

The research team also created an online platform to make it easier for people to access the evidence generated on different CAIMs. Their review was published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.

While the umbrella review did not explicitly recommend any specific therapies over others, the researchers suggested that the standard of care should focus on behavioral, educational, and developmental therapies with a strong evidence base.

Over the years, the rate of autism diagnoses has significantly increased. In 2000, about 1 in 150 children received an ASD diagnosis; by 2020, that figure had climbed to 1 in 31, reflecting both greater awareness and evolving diagnostic criteria. The average age for an autism diagnosis is five, though many parents notice developmental delays or atypical behavior in their children as early as two years old. Diagnosis rates have spiked in recent years, with a 2024 analysis showing a 175 percent increase from 2011 to 2022.

The precise cause of autism remains unknown, but recent studies suggest environmental influences such as exposure to pollution, maternal infections during pregnancy, and advanced parental age may play a role. As the number of diagnoses continues to rise, the need for effective and safe treatments becomes increasingly urgent.