Autism Vox

May 28th, 2008

A Pill for the Placebo Effect

Jennifer Buettner, who has three young children, has created a new company called Efficacy Brands which makes placebos for children. The company will see cherry-flavored dextrose tablets (”Obecalp”—-guess what word that is, spelled backwards?); $5.95 for a bottle of 50. Buettner came up with the idea while taking care of a niece with a “raging […]

By Kristina Chew, PhD -- 21 comments

February 1st, 2008

A Pill to Induce Autism?

A “group of German researchers” has announced that they have “perfected the method for inducing autism.”

??!!!?!?!???

They have also, it is parenthetically noted, figured out how to “cure” autism (this study on reversing symptoms of autism and Fragile X is cited). Cure being a fighting word in discussions about autism, I’ll note that this “autism-inducing drug” […]

By Kristina Chew, PhD -- 16 comments