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

Abstract

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 p = 0.005, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively; no differences were seen for VP (p = 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.

Keywords: attention; fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD); neurocognitive disorders; osteopathic manipulative treatment; prenatal alcohol exposure.