Ketamine and the core symptoms of autism
-
Theodore Kastner
,
Kevin Walsh
Abstract
Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a behavioral syndrome characterized by (a) persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts and (b) restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. However, the etiology of autism in most cases remains unknown. Ketamine, an N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blocker, has been purported by some as a possible treatment for autism. This conclusion is premature. Here, we present a single case study in which a patient with a severe intellectual disability was said to have demonstrated a dramatic, albeit short-lived, remission of the core symptoms of autism following adventitious treatment with ketamine. Although this anecdote is encouraging, we argue that further analysis of ketamine as a treatment for autism is needed.
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©2016 by De Gruyter
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- An introduction to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
- Original Articles
- An introduction to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
- Spectral analysis of heart rate variability
- Brief functional analysis of repetitive verbal behavior (vocal stereotypy) for an adult with acquired brain injury
- Impact of school participation on quality of life of Brazilian children with cerebral palsy
- A survey of disabled persons about their physical activity
- Effect of PNF technique for knee muscles on lower limb performance in subacute stroke – an experimental study
- Korean early childhood educators’ self-reported versus observed strategies for addressing challenging behaviors: an exploratory study
- Adaptation: Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale for 3–9 year-old Indian children
- Assessment of selected behavior aspects of 10 male persons with profound intellectual disability in regard to atmospheric conditions during a three-month-long observation
- An examination of language and nonverbal abilities in twins with Apert syndrome
- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis associations with self- vs. parental ratings of depression in boys with an autism spectrum disorder
- Managing stress in schools: teachers coping with special education children
- Lexical decision task for taxonomic and thematic categorization in typically developing Kannada-English-speaking bilingual children
- Using curriculum-based measurement data to monitor the effectiveness of the Wilson Reading System for students with disabilities: an exploratory study
- Evaluation of a leadership and intrapersonal development subject for university students in Hong Kong: findings based on 2 years
- Technology to support positive occupational engagement and communication in persons with multiple disabilities
- Case Reports
- Sonographic diagnosis of simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture
- Ketamine and the core symptoms of autism
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- An introduction to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
- Original Articles
- An introduction to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
- Spectral analysis of heart rate variability
- Brief functional analysis of repetitive verbal behavior (vocal stereotypy) for an adult with acquired brain injury
- Impact of school participation on quality of life of Brazilian children with cerebral palsy
- A survey of disabled persons about their physical activity
- Effect of PNF technique for knee muscles on lower limb performance in subacute stroke – an experimental study
- Korean early childhood educators’ self-reported versus observed strategies for addressing challenging behaviors: an exploratory study
- Adaptation: Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale for 3–9 year-old Indian children
- Assessment of selected behavior aspects of 10 male persons with profound intellectual disability in regard to atmospheric conditions during a three-month-long observation
- An examination of language and nonverbal abilities in twins with Apert syndrome
- Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis associations with self- vs. parental ratings of depression in boys with an autism spectrum disorder
- Managing stress in schools: teachers coping with special education children
- Lexical decision task for taxonomic and thematic categorization in typically developing Kannada-English-speaking bilingual children
- Using curriculum-based measurement data to monitor the effectiveness of the Wilson Reading System for students with disabilities: an exploratory study
- Evaluation of a leadership and intrapersonal development subject for university students in Hong Kong: findings based on 2 years
- Technology to support positive occupational engagement and communication in persons with multiple disabilities
- Case Reports
- Sonographic diagnosis of simultaneous bilateral quadriceps tendon rupture
- Ketamine and the core symptoms of autism
