Autism Research Studies Exclude Low Functioning Autistic Participants

Discrimination against persons with low functioning autism disorders takes many forms. It is particularly rampant in the autism research world where studies purporting to inform us about autism almost invariably exclude low functioning autistic participants. Conclusions are again being drawn about persons with autism spectrum disorders based on a study which excluded low functioning autistic participants.  The study examined the effectiveness of the antidepressant Prozac in treating repetitive behavior and obsessive-compulsive behavior in adults with "autism". 

Presumably physicians will be prescribing Prozac either as a consequence of this study and similar confirming studies. If all their clients are persons with high functioning autism and Aspergers they will at least have done so on some evidence basis.  If physicians prescribe Prozac to low functioning autistic adults based on this and similar studies however they will be doing so without any evidence basis. 

As reported in TIME, Prozac May Reduce Symptoms of Autism in Adults:

The antidepressant Prozac may alleviate repetitive behavior and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in adults with autism, reducing these defining symptoms of the disorder, according to new research.

The research, which included 37 high-functioning autistic adults, mainly diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, followed participants for 12 weeks. Taking Prozac (fluoxetine) doubled the chances that a patient would show overall improvement, measured by their clinicians. Half of the participants taking Prozac had significant reductions in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, compared with 8% taking placebo. Side effects were mild to moderate and participants taking Prozac did not show increases in suicidal thoughts or ideas.

"Repetitive behavior is a core symptom of the illness," says lead author Dr. Eric Hollander, medical director of the Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Program at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, explaining that "from a very early age, these children have rituals and routines. For example, they like to line up their toys and they get very bent out of shape if there is any deviation."


The abstract for the study, A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Fluoxetine for Repetitive Behaviors and Global Severity in Adult Autism Spectrum Disorders, published in The American Journal of Psychiatry,  refers to the participants as adults with ASD's, or Autism Spectrum Disorders, but does not indicate that the study does not involve any low functioning autistic participants. The title of the study report also refers to adult autism spectrum disorders without identifying the exclusion of low functioning autistic participants.

Aspergers? CHECK High Functioning Autism? CHECK Low Functioning Autism? NO, not in the "autism" research world.