Lack of Benefit of a Single Dose of Synthetic Human Secretin in the Treatment of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by qualitative abnormalities of social interaction, impairments in communication, and unusual forms of repetitive behavior. 1 Research on drug treatment has been directed toward the management of symptoms. Serotonergic mechanisms have been implicated in some of the symptoms of autism, 2 and the results of recent clinical trials indicate that serotonergic drugs can lessen the severity of symptoms associated with autism and related conditions. 3 – 5 In the absence of proven drug treatment for the core symptoms of autism, unproven treatments are widely used. 6 Some of these treatments are based on theories of abnormal intestinal permeability, according . . .