A Pilot Study on the Combination of Applied Behavior Analysis and Bumetanide Treatment for Children with Autism

TLDR: Investigating the therapeutic effects of combined bumetanide and applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment in children with autism found treatment with bumetinide combined with ABA training may result in a better outcome inChildren with autism than ABATraining alone.

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of combined bumetanide and applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment in children with autism. Methods: Sixty children diagnosed with autism according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) criteria (mean age of 4.5 years) were randomly divided into two groups: A single treatment group (n=28) and a combined treatment group (n=32). The combined treatment group received ABA training combined with oral bumetanide (0.5 mg twice a day). The single treatment group received ABA training only. Autism symptoms were evaluated with the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), whereas severity of disease (SI) and global improvement (GI) were measured with the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI). Assessment of ABC, CARS, and CGI was performed immediately before and 3 months after initiation of the treatment(s). Results: Prior to intervention(s) no statistically si...