e study, and 2 did not return for follow-up. Thus, 56 children (28 in each group) completed the study. As compared with placebo, secretin treatment was not associated with significant improvements in any of the outcome measures. Among the children in the secretin group, the mean total score on the autism Behavior Checklist at base line was 59.0 (range of possible values, 0 to 158, with a larger value corresponding to greater impairment), and among those in the placebo group it was 63.2. The mean decreases in scores over the four-week period were 8.9 in the secretin group and 17.8 in the placebo group (mean difference, 8.9; 95 percent confidence interval, 19.4 to 1.6; P=0.11). None of the children had treatment-limiting adverse effects. (3,pg 67 )After they were told the results, 69 percent of the parents of the children in this study said they remained interested in secretin as a treatment for their children.(3) Transdermal secretin therapy is far on its way in the medical world but every family will have to choose for themselves the best method of treatment. Sallys parents will have to choose for themselves the best medical approach to helping their child but there is more than just medical assistance available to families affected by autism. There are support groups, informational websites, and programs that can assist these families in better understanding what they are facing. One such program is the University of South Floridas Center for Autism and Related Disorders. This particular program is stated as a community based program, which means the staff members travel to visit the constituents in their homes, schools or wherever assistance is needed. The program serves children and adults of all levels of intellectual functioning who have autism, autistic-like disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders, dual sensory impairments (deaf-blindness), or a vision or hearing loss in addition to other disabling conditions. (http://car...
