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A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine versus synthetic secretin for reducing symptoms of autism.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Unis, AS; Munson, JA; Rogers, SJ; Goldson, E; Osterling, J; Gabriels, R; Abbott, RD; Dawson, G
Published in: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
November 2002

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of a single dose of biologic and synthetic porcine secretin to placebo on a variety of autism symptoms. METHOD: Eighty-five children with autism without other medical conditions and not taking other psychotropic medications participated (ages between 3 and 12 years, mean IQ = 55). Children were grouped into trios matched by age and communication level and then randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: biologic secretin (2 CU/kg), synthetic secretin (0.4 microg/kg), and placebo. Measures collected 1 week before and 4 weeks after infusion included autism symptoms, language skills, and problem behaviors, gathered from parents, teachers, and investigators, who were all blind to treatment. Two-factor, repeated-measures analyses of variance (3 treatment levels by 2 repeated measures, pre- and postinfusion) were used to examine efficacy. RESULTS: Direct observation measures did not show change over time related to secretin. Parent reports showed an overall reduction of symptom severity for all treatment groups, including the placebo group. One teacher-report measure showed decreases in autism symptoms in the placebo and synthetic secretin groups. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence that either biologic or synthetic secretin provided amelioration of symptoms beyond placebo was observed. This held true when children with and without gastrointestinal problems were examined separately.

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Published In

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0890-8567

Publication Date

November 2002

Volume

41

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1315 / 1321

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Secretin
  • Humans
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • Child
  • Autistic Disorder
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
 

Citation

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Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Unis, A. S., Munson, J. A., Rogers, S. J., Goldson, E., Osterling, J., Gabriels, R., … Dawson, G. (2002). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine versus synthetic secretin for reducing symptoms of autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 41(11), 1315–1321. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200211000-00012
Unis, Alan S., Jeffrey A. Munson, Sally J. Rogers, Ed Goldson, Julie Osterling, Robin Gabriels, Robert D. Abbott, and Geraldine Dawson. “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine versus synthetic secretin for reducing symptoms of autism.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 41, no. 11 (November 2002): 1315–21. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200211000-00012.
Unis AS, Munson JA, Rogers SJ, Goldson E, Osterling J, Gabriels R, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine versus synthetic secretin for reducing symptoms of autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002 Nov;41(11):1315–21.
Unis, Alan S., et al. “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine versus synthetic secretin for reducing symptoms of autism.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, vol. 41, no. 11, Nov. 2002, pp. 1315–21. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/00004583-200211000-00012.
Unis AS, Munson JA, Rogers SJ, Goldson E, Osterling J, Gabriels R, Abbott RD, Dawson G. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of porcine versus synthetic secretin for reducing symptoms of autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002 Nov;41(11):1315–1321.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0890-8567

Publication Date

November 2002

Volume

41

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1315 / 1321

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Secretin
  • Humans
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • Child
  • Autistic Disorder
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology