| Autism - Negative report on the use of secretin |
A December 9 article from AP by Janet Mc Connaughey reports that the first two rigorous studies evaluating secretin for the treatment of children with autism showed that secretin worked no better than a placebo. One article was authored by Dr. Adrian D. Sandler and others and was published in today's <New England Journal of Medicine.>
A large placebo effect was noted, with
equal numbers of children getting secretin and the placebo
showing improvements.
Dr. Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development is quoted as saying that
the findings "strongly suggest that secretin should not
be recommended to treat autism...."
Another study with similar negative
results, by Dr. Edwin H. Cook, can be seen on the Medscape
Internet site for October.
The strongest professional supporter of using secretin, Dr.
Bernard Rimland, happens (with a Victoria Beck) to own the
patent on secretin.
Other studies are underway.
Warning:
Secretin is a controversial therapy.
It is administered as an IV injection. This therapy will definitely need the co-operation of your
family doctor. Click
here for a location where you can get more information