Functional Remission and Diagnostic Shift in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effectiveness of a Naturopathic Intervention in a Single Case

This report presents a longitudinal single-case study of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) undergoing a multimodal naturopathic intervention based on the Katia Dolle Method® (KDM). The intervention was designed within a complex systems framework, targeting interconnected biological factors including intestinal dysbiosis, food hypersensitivity, micronutrient imbalances, and heavy metal burden.

The case involves a 4-year-old girl diagnosed with moderate-to-severe ASD using standardized tools (ADOS-2, ADI-R, Battelle), showing significant impairments across socio-communicative and developmental domains at baseline.

Over a 24-month intervention period, the patient received an individualized protocol combining trophology (dietary correction), sequential naturopathic supplementation, and structured parental coaching. Clinical evolution was monitored through psychometric assessments, laboratory analyses, and caregiver-reported outcomes.

Results showed an 85.7% reduction in autism symptom severity (ATEC: 112 → 16), alongside a significant increase in developmental functioning (DP-3: +30 points, approximately 2 standard deviations). The patient achieved substantial improvements in language, social interaction, behavioral regulation, and adaptive functioning.

Notably, external reassessments revealed a diagnostic discrepancy: while a non-blinded evaluation maintained an ASD diagnosis, an independent blinded hospital-based assessment did not confirm ASD, identifying instead a severe expressive language disorder.

These findings suggest a trajectory compatible with functional remission (optimal outcome) and highlight the potential role of multimodal naturopathic interventions in modulating biological systems associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. The case also illustrates the phenomenon of diagnostic overshadowing in the presence of severe language impairment and underscores the importance of independent reassessment at advanced developmental stages.Copyright