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| Assessing Innovative Treatments in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders |
| Saturday, May 29, 2004 |
| 1:00 PM–2:20 PM |
| Back Bay B |
| Area: AUT/DDA; Domain: Applied Research |
| Chair: Benjamin L. Handen (Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic) |
| Discussant: James A. Mulick (Columbus Children's Hospital) |
| Abstract: Assessing Innovative Treatments in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders |
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| Assessing the Safety and Efficacy of Secretin in Autism |
| BENJAMIN L. HANDEN (Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic), Dena Hofkosh (Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh) |
| Abstract: A number of recent studies have examined the efficacy of secretin (a polypeptide neurotransmitter) to treat symptoms associated with Autistic Disorder. Initial anecdotal reports indicated significant gains in social relatedness and language. However, a number of recent double-blind studies have documented no significant differences between placebo and active medication. This presentation will summarize the secretin literature and report the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of the efficacy of secretin in a group of eight children with Autistic Disorder. |
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| The Efficacy of Sensory Integration Therapy in Children with Autism |
| BENJAMIN L. HANDEN (Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic) |
| Abstract: The use of sensory integration (SI) therapies is fairly common in classrooms that serve children with autism. Yet, there is limited well-controlled empirical evidence documenting the effectiveness of SI or available data for providing guidelines for its use. This presentation will provide an overview of the theoretical issues related to how SI therapies are thought to work, summarize the SI literature, and present the results of a double-blind study to assess the effectiveness of SI treatment to decrease hyperactivity and inattention in a group of children with Autism. |
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| Safety and Efficacy of Cognitive Enhancing Drugs in Autism |
| CYNTHIA R. JOHNSON (Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh), Benjamin L. Handen (Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic) |
| Abstract: Donepezil HCl (Aricept) is a cholinesterase inhibitor, which increases brain levels of acetylcholine and is purported to enhance cognitive functioning. This agent is thought to increase the available acetylcholine (ACh) within the cerebral cortex and hippocampus cholinergic synapses. Donepezil HCl has been most widely used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. However, there has been some recent evidence that its use might augment speech production, emotional expression and attention. This presentation will provide an overview of the theoretical issues related to Aricept, discuss how it might effect cognitive functioning, summarize the Aricept literature, and report preliminary results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety and effectiveness of Aricept in a group of children with Autism. |
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