Controlled Evaluation of the Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on the Behavior of 16 Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used to treat individuals with autism. However, few studies of its effectiveness have been completed. The current study examined the effects of 40 HBOT sessions at 24% oxygen at 1.3 ATA on 11 topographies of directly observed behavior. Five replications of multiple baselines were completed across a total of 16 participants with autism spectrum disorders. No consistent effects were observed across any group or within any individual participant, demonstrating that HBOT was not an effective treatment for the participants in this study. This study represents the first relatively large-scale controlled study evaluating the effects of HBOT at the level of the individual participant, on a wide array of behaviors.

Brief Report: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Clinical Trial

“…The authors reported that 9/30 (30%) of children in the treatment group were rated as ''much improved'' or ''very much improved'' on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) score compared to only 2/26 (8%) in the placebo group (p = 0.0024) (Rossignol et al 2009). However, this study was criticized for several methodological problems (Jepson et al 2010), and it did not show improvements in other outcome measures, including the overall score and the five subscales of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist. A second randomized, placebo-controlled trial (published in 2010) included 34 children with ASD who were randomly assigned to the same level of hyperbaric therapy as the first study (1.3 atm and 24-28% oxygen) and a similar sham control ).…”

“…The reasons for the discrepant findings of the two studies are unclear. Most recently, a detailed assessment of individual behaviors in 16 children with ASD undergoing hyperbaric therapy (40 sessions of 24% oxygen at 1.3 ATA) found no consistent positive or negative effects in a large number of behaviors (Jepson et al 2010).…”

Exploring the Potential Role of Inflammation as an Etiological Process in ASD

“…In a 2011 study conducted by Jepson and colleagues, direct observation play sessions were used to measure observable behaviors, including spontaneous vocalizations, physical initiations, vocal responses, physical responses, self-injurious behavior, disruption, tantrums, vocal stereotypy, and physical stereotypy. After engaging in HBOT with 24 % oxygen at 1.3 atm, there were no significant changes in the behavioral symptoms of ASD (Jepson et al 2011). The outcome measures and methodology vary widely in the literature assessing the effectiveness of HBOT, making it difficult to conclusively assess its utility in ASD.…”

Fad, Pseudoscientific, and Controversial Interventions

“…As with the other treatments discussed above, this approach is based on fl awed or unproven theoretical underpinnings, however this has not prevented its wide usage. To date rigorous scientifi c research (Granpeesheh et al, 2010 ;Jepson et al, 2011 ) has indicated that HBOT does not result in improvements in ASD symptoms. This is another example of a controversial, expensive treatment based on unfounded ideas that is without supporting evidence .…”