The Effectiveness of Holistic Multi-dimensional Treatment Model (HMTM) in the Treatment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) belong to the pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders. The prevalence of ASD has increased significantly throughout recent decades, bringing the overall estimated prevalence to 11.3 per 1000 children. ASD is characterized by severe difficulties in reciprocal social interaction, stereotyped patterns of behavior and profound impairments in verbal and nonverbal communication. In this experimental study, 150 children with ASD, who referred to psychiatry clinics of children in two Mashhad Academic Hospitals-Iran, were enrolled. At the first, they divided into 3 groups (n=50 patients in each group). All groups were educated and treated with Holistic Multidimensional Treatment Model (HMTM) method but for different periods: one, two, and three years. Data analysis was done using ANOVA and ANCOVA test. 78% of participants were boys. According to the results, 26% of participants after one year treatment, 44% after two years and 52% after three years treatment improved. The participants’ symptoms of behavioral, cognitive and physical function declined in 3 groups significantly (p<0.05). The results suggest that holistic multidimensional treatment model has been effective in treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders in all the three groups, regardless of the gender and age. Whatever treatment period would be longer, recovery process would be more effective in children with ASD spectrum.