Keywords
Autistic Disorder
Cannabidiol
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Abstract
Objective: To identify the benefits of the therapeutic use of cannabidiol to control the symptoms of autism in children. Methods: This is an integrative review, with a search using a combination of the Health Sciences Descriptors: “Autism Spectrum Disorder”, “Cannabidiol” and “Children”, selecting 16 articles for the final sample of this review. Results: The use of this drug in children with autism and epilepsy reduced the frequency of these episodes by between 80% and 95%. There was also a reduction in episodes of aggression and self-mutilation in 67% of the patients who used cannabidiol, as analyzed using the Autism/Caregiver Global Impression of Change scale. The administration of this herbal medicine led to an improvement in the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community scale, reducing irritability. It also led to an improvement in the symptoms of participants in social interactions, an increase in expressive language, communication and reduction in stereotypes. Final considerations: Cannabidiol has significant potential for managing the behavioral, neurological and cognitive spheres of this disorder. These findings show the importance of conducting future research to assess efficacy and safety in this population.
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