GUT-BRAIN AXIS-ORIENTED INDIVIDUALISED HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND GASTROINTESTINAL DYSREGULATION: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL CASE SERIES

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is frequently accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbances, and growing evidence supports the role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in modulating behavioural severity. This prospective observational case series explored the clinical effect of individualized homoeopathic management in children with ASD presenting with prominent gastrointestinal dysregulation. Six children were followed over six months in a tertiary homoeopathic clinical setting. Baseline and follow-up assessments were conducted using the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), Autism Spectrum Disorder Gastrointestinal and Related Behaviours Inventory (GIRBI), and ordinal severity scores (0–3) for constipation, abdominal pain, sleep disturbance, and irritability. Mean ISAA scores reduced from 101.67 ± 9.33 to 73.67 ± 6.53 (27.54% improvement; p = 0.0355), while GIRBI scores decreased from 34.17 ± 4.02 to 16.00 ± 2.37 (53.17% improvement; p = 0.0355). Significant reductions were observed in constipation, abdominal pain, sleep disturbance, and irritability (mean reduction = 1.83 points each; p = 0.0263). A moderate positive correlation was noted between gastrointestinal and behavioural improvement (Spearman ρ = 0.515). These findings indicate parallel improvement across gut and behavioural domains and suggest a clinically relevant association between gastrointestinal stabilization and behavioural changes. Although limited by small sample size, the study provides preliminary observational evidence supporting integrative gut–brain axis–oriented therapeutic approaches.