Efficacy and Feasibility of an Osteopathic Intervention for Neurocognitive and Behavioral Symptoms Usually Associated With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

• Published in: Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience 2022-03, Vol.16, p.860223
• Main Authors: Cases-Solé, Ramon, Varillas-Delgado, David, Astals-Vizcaino, Marta, García-Algar, Óscar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: attention; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Behavior; Behavioral Neuroscience; Children; Cognition; Families & family life; fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD); Fetal alcohol syndrome; Intervention; Memory; Metabolism; neurocognitive disorders; Neuropsychology; osteopathic manipulative treatment; Osteopathic medicine; Pediatrics; Population; prenatal alcohol exposure; Spatial discrimination; Spatial memory; Visual perception
• ISSN: 1662-5153; 1662-5153
• DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.860223

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a 4-week planned osteopathic manipulative treatment intervention on the improvement of neurocognitive and behavioral symptoms usually associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Thirty-two symptomatic children without fetal alcohol spectrum disorder aged 3-6 years with low level of attention from two schools and an osteopathic center were recruited in a prospective randomized pilot study in an osteopathic manipulative treatment group [osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)] or a control group (standard support measures). Neurocognitive maturity test results for attention (A), iconic memory (IM), spatial structuration (SS), and visual perception (VP) were recorded at baseline and post-intervention. No adverse effects were communicated and there were no dropouts. A significant increase in neurocognitive assessments was observed in children in the OMT group at post-treatment. Intergroup post-intervention statistical differences were found for A, SS, and IM were = 0.005, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively; no differences were seen for VP ( = 0.097). This study shows that a 4-week osteopathic manipulative treatment intervention may be a feasible and effective therapeutic approach for neurocognitive and behavioral symptoms usually present in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, justifying more studies on children affected by this condition.