Autism is a disorder that has received quite a lot of attention in recent years, especially in education. This is not without reason, autism is an intriguing and relatively unknown disorder. There is much controversy about the causes of autism. Some people argue that autism is related to hyperserotonemia: an increased level of serotonin.
What is autism?
Autism is described as a pervasive developmental disorder by the DSM IV , the most widely used classification tool. The autistic disorder is identified using three core symptoms:
- Qualitative limitations in social interactions
- Qualitative limitations in communication
- Restricted, repetitive stereotypical patterns of behavior, interests, and activities
Qualitative limitations in social interactions
Autism is a form of a contact disorder . People with autism have difficulty with social interaction and often have behavioral problems. The translation of this into practice is very diverse. One person completely cuts themselves off from the outside world, while the other imposes themselves on other people in an inadequate way.
Qualitative limitations in communication
People with autism often encounter communication and language problems. Communication is often more difficult than the contact itself. Some people with autism never even learn to speak . The people who have learned to speak often stand out because of their distinctive voice and/or choice of words. People have a lot of difficulty discussing feelings because they cannot empathize with the other person’s feelings. Interpreting non-verbal communication often does not go smoothly.
Restricted, repetitive stereotypical patterns of behavior, interests, and activities
A large group of people with autism adhere strongly to fixed rituals . For example, people are fascinated by trains, or by numbers. The connection with reality is often disrupted: stimuli come in too weak or too strong.
Although the above three characteristics are the core symptoms , it does not mean that everyone with autism must meet all of the above points. Autism is a disorder that has a lot of variety . One person has more difficulty with social interaction, while another does not but has a strong obsession with car brands.
Treatment of autism
To date, no curative treatment has been found for autism. Therapy and care mainly focuses on reducing undesirable behavior such as aggression, stereotypical behavior, egocentrism, concentration problems and communication limitations. The drug treatment usually consists of Risperidone, a drug that appears to be especially effective in treating aggressive behavior. SSRIs (category of antidepressants) reduce stereotypic behavior in some people. Psychostimulants such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, etc.) can address concentration and attention problems. Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy sometimes seem to work in reducing specific undesirable behavior, but little research has been conducted into this.
What is serotonin?
Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters in our body. A neurotransmitter is used for signal transmission between neurons in the nervous system. This exchange takes place between synapses. Serotonin falls under the monoamines.
What does serotonin do?
Serotonin is associated with mood, emotions, sleep, sexual activity and appetite. Serotonin has a stimulating effect and regulates the dopamine system.
Presence and availability
In some people the serotonin balance is disturbed. One either has too much serotonin in the blood or too little. Too little serotonin is associated with depression , among other things . An antidepressant supplements the shortage of serotonin or ensures that it remains available longer. Too much serotonin is associated with serotonin poisoning . This is a state accompanied by symptoms such as overheating, disturbances of consciousness, blood clotting and cardiac arrhythmias. Serotonin poisoning is often fatal, but almost only occurs after the use of products that extremely increase serotonin, such as drugs and an overdose of antidepressants.
Autism and serotonin
It is fairly obvious that too low a level of serotonin can lead to depression and too high a level of serotonin can lead to serotonin poisoning, given the function of this neurotransmitter. The relationship between autism and serotonin is somewhat less clear and to be expected.
Surprising research results
Schain & Freedman (1961) conducted a study of various medications in autistic people. They discovered that people with autism have an increased level of serotonin in the blood. This increased level is also called hyperserotonemia . This research report has received a lot of attention.
Cause of hyperserotonemia
There are roughly two ways in which hyperserotonemia can develop:
- The interaction of platelets with serotonin
- The amount of serotonin supplied to the platelets
When too much serotonin is offered to the platelets and they cannot cope with the processing, an excess can occur. It is also possible that too much serotonin is produced/secreted elsewhere.
Continued research and conclusion
In the years following Schain & Freedman’s impressive study in 1961, several other researchers began investigating the possible causal relationship between autism and hyperserotonemia in more depth . Various questions have now been answered, although one major, very important question remains: does hyperserotonemia underlie autism or is it an interesting but secondary side effect ? It will probably take many years before we get an answer to this, if we ever do…