Salivary oxytocin concentrations in seven boys with autism spectrum disorder received massage from their mothers: a pilot study.

Shuji Tsuji,Yuto Shimizu,Teruko Yuhi,Shogo Ohta,Kazumi Furuhara,Haruhiro Higashida

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00058

Shuji Tsuji, Yuto Shimizu + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00058

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Abstract

Seven male children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), aged 8–12 years, attending special education classrooms for ASD and disabled children, were assigned to receive touch therapy. Their mothers were instructed to provide gentle touch in the massage style of the International Liddle Kidz Association. The mothers gave massages to their child for 20 min every day over a period of 3 months, followed by no massage for 4 months. To assess the biological effects of such touch therapy, saliva was collected before and 20 min after a single session of massage for 20 min from the children and mothers every 3 weeks during the massage period and every 4 weeks during the non-massage period, when they visited a community meeting room. Salivary oxytocin levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit. During the period of massage therapy, the children and mothers exhibited higher oxytocin concentrations compared to those during the non-massage period. The changes in oxytocin levels before and after a single massage session were not significantly changed in children and mothers. The results suggested that the ASD children (massage receivers) and their mothers (massage givers) show touch therapy-dependent changes in salivary oxytocin concentrations.

Highlights

Sensory functioning is recognized to be different for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [1, 2]
The average basal OT levels in mothers were higher during the massage period than in the non-massage period (n = 46, two-tailed Student’s t-test, P < 0.05; Figure 2)
We examined the biological effects of touch therapy in children diagnosed with ASD and attending a special education class for ASD and disabled children in elementary schools, as well as in their mothers who provided massage daily

Summary

Introduction

Sensory functioning is recognized to be different for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [1, 2]. Sensory impairment may lead to a dislike of going outside, washing the hands and body, and dressing. They may display tactile defensiveness in the form of rubbing, scratching, self-stimulation such as rocking and self-injury [3]. The use of predictable touch in the form of massage has been shown to decrease touch aversion and reduce stereotypic behaviors in children with ASD [10,11,12,13,14]. With the predictable movements of massage, this type of touch may be more acceptable than the unpredictable social touch frequently resisted by children.

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