Experience in the use of transcranial micro polarization in children with autism spectrum disorders

Introduction. Autism is a disorder characterized by social interaction disorders, social-emotional reciprocity, responses to other people’s emotions, social use of speech skills, lack of modulations of behavior under the social situation, and limited interest stereotypes. The comprehensive approach using medical and psychological correction with physical methods of influence provides the best result in treating and rehabilitating children with autism. The original study examined the effects of transcranial micro polarization (TCMP) on the dynamics of autistic disorders. TCMP is a modern treatment method consisting of a directed polarizing impact of a low-power DC on specific brain areas.

Materials and methods. There were observed 25 children aged from 2 years five months to 6 years with varying degrees of severity of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). For the study, three groups were identified according to the corresponding clinical diagnoses: Childhood autism, Atypical autism, and Other general developmental disorders. The vast majority of children from the first two groups had an intellectual disability of varying severity. The TCMP method was used to assess the technique’s effectiveness, the CARS diagnostic scale and the ATEK test. 

Results. At the end of the course, with the use of TCMP in all the analyzed groups, there was a shift towards a milder degree of autistic disorders. The most significant positive effect was recorded in children with mild forms of autism in the group of other general developmental disorders due to the initially higher level of development in this group. 

Conclusion. The results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of TCMP in ASD children. According to the results of the study, the positive effect of this method was revealed in the form of reducing the severity of autistic disorders. 

1. Churkin A.A., Martyushov A.N. A Brief Guide to the Use of ICD-10 in Psychiatry and Narcology [Kratkoe rukovodstvo po ispol’zovaniyu MKB-10 v psikhiatrii i narkologii]. Moscow: Triad-X; 2000. (in Russian)

2. Makushkin E.V., Demcheva N.K. Dynamics and comparative analysis of child and adolescent incidence of mental disorders in the Russian Federation in the years 2000-2018. Rossiyskiy psikhiatricheskiy zhurnal. 2019; (4): 4–15. https://doi.org/10.24411/1560-957X-2019-11930 (in Russian)

3. Domishkevich S.L. Functional-Level Approach in Psychodiagnostics, Correctional and Developmental Work and Psychological Counseling. Part 1 [Funktsional’no-urovnevyy podkhod v psikhodiagnostike, korrektsionno-razvivayushchey rabote i psikhologicheskom konsul’tirovanii. Chast’ 1]. Irkutsk; 2002. (in Russian)

4. Kozhushko N.Yu., ed. Micropolarization in Children with Mental Disabili­ties or How to Raise the Bar for Limited Opportunities [Mikropolyarizatsiya u detey s narusheniem psikhicheskogo razvitiya ili Kak podnyat’ planku ogranichennykh vozmozhnostey]. St. Petersburg; 2011. (in Russian)

5. Kozhushko N.Yu. Ponomareva E.L., Ilyukhina V.L., Matveev Yu.K., Berezhnaya N.F., Sokolov A.N., et al. Method for treating children for psychical development disorders. Patent RF № 2 248 227; 2005. (in Russian)

6. Sokolov A.N. Psychological effects of correctional and developmental classes during transcranial micropolarization sessions in children with mental retardation: Diss. St. Petersburg; 2005. (in Russian)

7. Bogdanov O.V., Shelyakin A.M., Preobrazhenskaya I.G., Pisar’kova E.V., Pakhomova Zh.M. Transcranial and Transvertebral Micropolarization in Neurology [Transkranial’naya i transvertebral’naya mikropolyarizatsiya v nevrologii. Metodicheskie rekomendatsii]. St. Petersburg; 2002. (in Russian)

8. Shelyakin A.M. Micropolarization of the brain, efficiency, physiological analysis: Diss. St. Peterburg; 2003. (in Russian)

9. Shelyakin A.M., Preobrazhenskaya I.G., Bogdanov O.V. Micropolarization Therapy in Pediatric Neurology (Practical Guide) [Mikropolyarizatsionnaya terapiya v detskoy nevrologii (prakticheskoe rukovodstvo)]. Moscow: Medkniga; 2008. (in Russian)

10. Bashina V.M. Autism in Childhood [Autizm v detstve]. Moscow: Medi­tsina; 1999. (in Russian)

11. Gluskina A.R., Neretina A.F., Kvasova E.A. Brain polarization with low-intensity direct current as part of multimodal rehabilitation program for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Doktor.Ru. 2011; (4): 13–6. (in Russian)

12. Ilyukhina V.A., Kozhushko N.Yu., Matveev Yu.K., Ponomareva E.M., Chernysheva E.M., Shaptiley M.A. Transcranial micropolarization in the complex treatment of tempo-delay speech and General psychomotor development in children of senior preschool age. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii im. S.S. Korsakova. 2004; 104(11): 34–41. (in Russian)

13. Ilyukhina V.A., Shaytor V.M., Kozhushko N.Yu., Kozhushko N.Yu., Ponomareva E.A., Fedorova M.A. A method of treatment of tempo delay of neuropsychiatric development in children. Patent RF № 2 180245; 2002. (in Russian)

14. Knyazeva O.V., Belousova M.V., Prusakov V.F., Zaykova F.M. Transcranial micropolarization application in complex rehabilitation in children with expressive speech disorder. Vestnik sovremennoy klinicheskoy meditsiny. 2019; 12(1): 64–9. https://doi.org/10.20969/VSKM.2019.12(1).64-69 (in Russian)

15. Chutko L.S., Liviyskaya A.M., Nikishina I.S., Yakovenko E.A., Surushkina S.Yu., Sergeev A.V. Transcranial micropolanzation in the treatment of specific speech disorders in children. Voprosy kurortologii, fizioterapii i lechebnoy fizicheskoy kul’tury. 2006; (6): 42–3. (in Russian)

16. Greben’ S.A., Makarina-Kibak L.E., Dokukina T.V., Smol’skaya I.V., Grigor’eva I.V., Misyuk N.N., et al. Method of Treatment of Speech Development Disorders in Autism by Transcranial Micropolarization. Instructions for Use [Metod lecheniya narusheniy rechevogo razvitiya pri autizme transkranial’noy mikropolyarizatsiey. Instruktsiya po primeneniyu]. Minsk; 2015. (in Russian)

17. Kasatkin V.N, Shaposhnikova A.F., Pis’mennaya N.V., Borodina L.G., Sudarikova M.A. Experience in the application of standardized diagnostic and assessment scales. In: Kasatkin V.N., ed. Children’s Autism. Research and Practice [Detskiy autizm. Issledovaniya i praktika]. Moscow; 2008. (in Russian)