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Saturday, May 9, 2009
Northwest Hall (Chicago Hilton)
10:00 AM
Background:
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are characterized by significant challenges in socialization, communication and stereotypical behaviors. While hundreds of treatments for ASDs exist, very few have been subjected to sound scientific investigation. One popular treatment which has been the subject of little previous research is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). While a large amount of anecdotal and uncontrolled reports suggest that HBOT is an effective treatment, only one controlled study has been published, consisting of a multiple baseline across three children. No treatment effect was detected in that study but further replication across additional participants and within a randomized placebo-controlled design is needed.
Objectives:
The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of HBOT, in a preparation similar to how it is typically used in the community, on language, socialization, stereotypy, and diagnostic outcome of children with autism.
Methods:
The current study consisted of a randomized placebo-controlled trial of HBOT. “Soft-shelled” HBOT chambers were used, such as are typically used in the general community. HBOT treatment sessions involved sitting in a chamber and being exposed to 24% oxygen at 1.3 ATA for 80 1-hour treatments. A minimum of six and a maximum of 10 treatments were administered per week. Placebo consisted of sitting in an HBOT chamber with normal atmospheric oxygen concentration and pressure. Parents were not informed of which group their child was assigned to. Both direct observational measures of behavior and standardized psychological assessments were used to evaluate the effects of the treatment. Behavior data collectors and psychological assessors were blind to group assignment. All areas of participant functioning relevant to autism were measured before and after the treatment phase, including language, challenging behaviors, play, stereotypy, and socialization. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Social Responsiveness Scale, both diagnostic measures of autism, were also included before and after treatment. All participants were concurrently receiving applied behavior analytic (ABA) therapy but the number of ABA treatment hours received was matched between the two groups. This was done to control for the potential confounding effects of differing number of ABA treatment hours between groups because ABA is a treatment of proven effectiveness.
Results:
Statistical analyses revealed that both groups improved slightly from baseline to post-treatment but no differences in outcome were detected between HBOT and placebo groups in direct measures of behavior, the results of standardized assessments, or the results of diagnostic assessments.
Conclusions:
The results of this study suggest that HBOT is not an effective treatment for autism. This study constitutes the first randomized placebo-controlled evaluation of HBOT.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are characterized by significant challenges in socialization, communication and stereotypical behaviors. While hundreds of treatments for ASDs exist, very few have been subjected to sound scientific investigation. One popular treatment which has been the subject of little previous research is hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). While a large amount of anecdotal and uncontrolled reports suggest that HBOT is an effective treatment, only one controlled study has been published, consisting of a multiple baseline across three children. No treatment effect was detected in that study but further replication across additional participants and within a randomized placebo-controlled design is needed.
Objectives:
The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of HBOT, in a preparation similar to how it is typically used in the community, on language, socialization, stereotypy, and diagnostic outcome of children with autism.
Methods:
The current study consisted of a randomized placebo-controlled trial of HBOT. “Soft-shelled” HBOT chambers were used, such as are typically used in the general community. HBOT treatment sessions involved sitting in a chamber and being exposed to 24% oxygen at 1.3 ATA for 80 1-hour treatments. A minimum of six and a maximum of 10 treatments were administered per week. Placebo consisted of sitting in an HBOT chamber with normal atmospheric oxygen concentration and pressure. Parents were not informed of which group their child was assigned to. Both direct observational measures of behavior and standardized psychological assessments were used to evaluate the effects of the treatment. Behavior data collectors and psychological assessors were blind to group assignment. All areas of participant functioning relevant to autism were measured before and after the treatment phase, including language, challenging behaviors, play, stereotypy, and socialization. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Social Responsiveness Scale, both diagnostic measures of autism, were also included before and after treatment. All participants were concurrently receiving applied behavior analytic (ABA) therapy but the number of ABA treatment hours received was matched between the two groups. This was done to control for the potential confounding effects of differing number of ABA treatment hours between groups because ABA is a treatment of proven effectiveness.
Results:
Statistical analyses revealed that both groups improved slightly from baseline to post-treatment but no differences in outcome were detected between HBOT and placebo groups in direct measures of behavior, the results of standardized assessments, or the results of diagnostic assessments.
Conclusions:
The results of this study suggest that HBOT is not an effective treatment for autism. This study constitutes the first randomized placebo-controlled evaluation of HBOT.