Study on the Differences in Dietary Behaviors of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with Different TCM Syndromes
Abstract：Objective: To study the dietary behavior characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with different TCM syndromes, providing theoretical guidance for targeted intervention in the dietary behavior problems of ASD children. Methods: The Preschool Age Child Behavior Scale (PEBS) was used to collect dietary behavior data of 3-6-year-old ASD children admitted to the hospital between October 2023 and May 2024. The cases were grouped according to different TCM syndromes, and differences in dietary behaviors among different TCM syndromes were compared. Results: Among the included cases, the syndrome of deficiency of both heart and spleen was the most common, accounting for 38.96% (30/77), followed by kidney essence deficiency syndrome, heart and liver fire excess syndrome, and spleen deficiency with liver hyperactivity syndrome. The association analysis between dietary behavior problems and TCM syndromes showed that children with spleen deficiency and liver hyperactivity syndrome had a higher positive rate in picky eating and overeating response behaviors, with statistically significant differences among the four groups (P < 0.05). The most significant differences were observed in food variety and refusal to eat disliked foods. There were no statistically significant differences in food response, adverse eating habits, external eating, emotional eating, and active feeding ability among children with different syndromes (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In children with ASD, those with spleen deficiency and liver depression syndromes often exhibit more severe adverse dietary behaviors. Targeted interventions for such children are of great significance for the treatment of autism.
Keywords：autism spectrum disorderthe syndrome differentiation of traditional Chinese medicinetype of syndromeeating behavior
Publication Date：2025-03-25
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 1074-1077 )