Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism
The logic for using hyperbaric oxygen treatment for developmental
disorders relates to the autoimmune and/or viral theory of these conditions.
Hyperbaric oxygen has been studied for autoimmune disorders and found to
be helpful. Encephalitis, in this theory, is thought to be part of
developmental disorders. The encephalitis can be initiated by viral
infection, by exposure to vaccines, and/or by other autoimmune processes
(the result of exposure to abnormal opioid-like substances from the opioid
excess hypothesis, for example).
Treatment Study
Patients with viral encephalitis from ages 1 yr. to 11 yrs. were treated
with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The treated group consisted of 47
patients,
28 male and 19 female. The control group consisted of 45 patients, 24 male
and 21 female. Viral encephalitis presents a model for the inflammation
that
may be part of autism. Studies such as this provide a basis for the use of
hyperbaric oxygen therapy for autism. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was
provided
at 1.8 atm abs for 80 minutes daily for 10 days in a pure oxygen monoplace
unit. The control group received supportive therapy with appropriate
drugs.
Results:
Table 1. Comparison of the Curative Effect of the High Pressure
Oxygen Treatment Group and the Control Group
Treatment Study
Group Cases Cured Effective Ineffective Total Effective
# # (%) # (%) # (%) (%)
Treatment 47 18 (38.3) 25 (55.3) 3 (6.4) 93.6
Control 45 8 (17.8) 20 (44.5) 17 (37.8) 62.2
P Value <0.05 N.S. <0.0001 <0.01
Clearly, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is effective for the treatment of
encephalitis in childhood.
Hyperbaric oxygen has an important role in the treatment of brain injury, and perhaps also developmental disorders. (See: The role of
Hyperbaric-Oxygen Therapy for intra-cranial pathology in Intensive Care).
Since we know of no data on the use of hyperbaric oxygen for developmental
disorders, and, since patients are doing these therapies, we will endeavor
to review what is known, so that parents can at least make informed
choices.
Printed with Permission
