Challenges in assessing change in autistic adults: scale limitations and discrepancies in reporting in clinical trials.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder marked by deficits in social communication and social interaction, together with restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behaviours, activities or interests. As more adults are being diagnosed with ASD, and more diagnosed children are aging into adulthood, the need for effective treatments and support services for autistic adults is quickly growing. As such, clinical research targeting autistic adults has emerged in recent years.

Randomized crossover feasibility trial of helminthic ova versus placebo for repetitive behaviors in adult autism spectrum disorder.

Inflammatory mechanisms are implicated in the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and use of the immunomodulator Ova (TSO) is a novel treatment approach. This pilot study determined the effect sizes for TSO versus placebo on repetitive behaviours, irritability and global functioning in adults with ASD. A 28-week double-blind, randomised two-period crossover study of TSO versus placebo in ten ASD adults, aged 17-35, was completed, with a 4-week washout between each 12-week period at Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.