Autism Medication Less Effective Than Placebo

Autism in children has become more prevalent than ever. The increase in diagnoses has led to an increase in treatments, with almost a third of autistic children being prescribed the drug citalopram, under the brand name Celexa. This drug is an antidepressant, the purpose of which is to help autistic children with their so-called "stimming," or need for repetetive action. A new study, however, not only rebuts the claim that Celexa helps autistic children's stimming, but also proves that Celexa performs worse than a placebo.

Stimming is a common symptom that leads to a diagnosis of autism, as it is observed in only 10% of non-autistic children. Short for "self-stimulation," it is defined as a repetetive body movement that seeks to stimulate one or more of the senses, often done unconsciously. Common forms of stereotypy among people with autism include hand flapping, body spinning or rocking, lining up or spinning toys or other objects, smelling objects, tapping ears, scratching, and repeating rote phrases.

The reasons autistic children exhibit stimming are mysterious, but researchers say it is most likely because they find it pleasurable or calming. Since they interfere, however, with learning and serve as a distraction, researchers have tried to find ways to help autistic children calm their need for repetetive behaviors. While some have had marked success allowing children the "reward" of stimming, once a task has been successfully completed, some other recommend various types of therapies. Exercise, along with other ways of channeling the stimming need into more socially acceptable behaviors, has been found to greatly reduce, or even eliminate, stimming in autistic children. Powerful drugs, however, have come into fashion lately, and are beginning to be prescribed to more and more autistic children.

There has yet to be done any comprehensive research on the drugs prescribed to these children. All that is known is that they are either powerful enough to provide internal pleasure comparable with that derived from stimming, or that they are powerful enough to slow the whole body's motor movement until the stimming is reduced.

Working out of Seattle Children's Hospital, Dr. Bryan King, director of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, researched the effects of one of the most prominent anti-stimming medications, citalopram/Celexa, versus a placebo on 149 autistic children. After twelve weeks, he found that 33% of the 73 children taking citalopram had shown improvement in their repetetive motions, which he said, taken by itself, would have convinced him of Celexa's efficacy in treating autistic children. However, 34% of the remaining 76 children, who were taking a placebo, also showed the same improvement.

Worse yet, since it is a powerful and mind-altering drug, Celexa has strong side effects. They include nausea, vomiting, increased impusivity, insomnia, seizures, and dizziness.

"A Third Of Children Diagnosed As Autistic In The US Take Celexa: New Study Finds It's Less Effective Than A Placebo"

http://www.disaboom.com/Blogs/disabled_politico/archive/2009/06/04/a-third-of-children-diagnosed-as-autistic-in-the-us-take-celexa-new-study-finds-it-s-less-effective-than-a-placebo.aspx

www.disaboom.com

"Stereotypic (Self-Stimulatory) Behavior"

http://www.autism.com/families/problems/stim.htm

www.autism.com