Clinic Notes: Ecstasy for Autism?

A few anecdotal reports have reported success in treating autism with marijuana. Proper investigational protocols were not followed and the therapist often got in trouble professionally and sometimes legally. Now the rave drug, MDMA better known as ecstasy is being suggested as a treatment for autism because reportedly it increases sociability, communication, and empathy in adult subjects with autism. The reported changes remained long after the drug had worn off. MDMA increases the level of vasopressin, a neurochemical known to mediate sociability, and oxytocin, a hormone that affects love and bonding. So pilot studies are being reviewed and should start soon. Interesting.

Clinic Notes: French Politics and the Treatment of Autism

In 1943, after American psychiatrist Leo Kanner published the first paper on autism, psychoanalytically oriented psychiatrists, blamed moms for autism. These so-called “refrigerator mothers”, who were emotionally cold and rejecting, caused a psychosis in their children which was similar to schizophrenia. (Very few autistic children actually develop adult schizophrenia.) Unfortunately, mothers at the time not only had to deal with an autistic child they also had to deal with their guilt. Psychoanalyst Bruno Bettelheim wrote extensively about the relationship between emotionally distant mothers and their autistic children. In the 60’s, following the publication of Bernard Rimland’s Infantile Autism many psychologists, psychiatrists, and of course neurologists, thought biological factors caused autism. I had dinner with Bettelheim in the early seventies and I tried to discuss the role of biological factors in autism with him. He refused to accept the possibility and told me in no uncertain terms to go read his books. There I would find everything I find all of the answers about autism. At the time I thought he was a relic from the past and did not think about him until I read recently that in France Bettelheim’s legacy is flourishing. Parents of children with autism are offered psychoanalysis as treatment for their children with autism despite research showing that it is ineffective. Apparently, French politics is heavily influenced by the psychoanalytic community.

Clinic Notes: Symptoms, Syndromes, and the Autism Spectrum

If you spent a few hours in the waiting room at The Children’s Treatment Center where I treat children, most of whom have Autism or Asperger’s diagnosis, you would be confused. Children on the Autism Spectrum are different—very different. At the lower end of the Spectrum we have children who are low functioning and often have a comorbid diagnosis of Mental Retardation, and are in special education classes at school. At the high end of the Spectrum we have children with high functioning autism and/or Asperger’s, who usually mainstreamed in school, but have more than their share of social problems. To add to the confusion you would also see kids with a dual diagnosis such as ADHD and Autism or Autism and ADHD, which even confuses me. Of course, part of the problem is there is no biological marker for Autism. But part of the problems is a carelessness among clinicians in diagnosing a syndrome, which is a collection of symptoms, and then adding a syndrome such as ADHD, which is a symptom often that makes up the syndrome Autism. In my view, this is a recklessness among clinicians that confuses parents, teachers, and other caregivers.

Clinic Notes: Children with Autism Have Unique Faces

A recent study at the University of Missouri found that different facial characteristics could be used to diagnosis children with autism. The facial characteristics are not so prominent that children could be picked out in a crowd as is the case with Down’s or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The diagnostic facial features are measured from 3 dimensional images taken of the face. Children with autism had statistically broader upper faces, wider eyes, a wider mouth and a wider philtrum. These features were formed before birth so this would imply a genetic cause of autism.

Clinic Notes: Dr. Gary Brown's Autism Diagnosis and Treatment Plan for Parents and Caregivers

Parent and caregivers hear so much discussion and get so much advice about autism that they are confused. Many times they go in so many different directions that they are not efficient in managing time and money and providing effective therapy for their child with autism. Over the years countless parents and caregivers have asked me to write a summary of what they should do to provide the most effective treatment for their child with autism. So on my website, www.aba4autism.com, I have provided a 7 page summary titled, Dr. Gary Brown's Autism Diagnosis and Treatment Plan for Parents and
Caregivers. All of the issues regarding diagnosis and treatment of autism are covered.

Dr. Gary Brown's Autism Apps Party

Dr. Brown's Apps is participating in the A4cwsn 3rd FB App Party thru 10/3! 50% of the proceeds from our app sales this weekend go towards helping children with special needs. Our Colors app will be $5 and all our other apps and packs will be only $2 each! Check out A4CWSN for free apps and promos all weekend long!!! And don't forget A4cwsn - Australia and A4cwsn - Canada

Clinic Notes: Different Strains of Autism

In previous blogs I have discussed that obvious variability that exist in the behavior of the children with an autism diagnosis who come to our clinic. The Autism Spectrum ranges from children at one end who are low functioning to children at the other end who are high functioning children with autism and Asperger’s. It has never been clear if we are dealing with one disorder with varies in its severity or multiple disorders. A recent study form the University of California Davis MIND Institute sheds some light on this. In a study that started in 2006, brain growth, exposure to environmental variables, and genetic factors were examined. The 350 children in the study ranged in age from 2 to 31/2. Two sub types of autism were identified. A group of boys with enlarged brains developed normally until 18 months of age and then regressed into an autism diagnosis. Another group did not regress but showed sighs of autism early and had compromised immune systems. The investigators theorized that other subtypes would emerge in future studies. Of course identifying groups early would allow clinicians, such as myself, to individualize treatment plans.