Paul Shattock

Paul Shattock (B.Pharm, Dip.Ag.Vet.Pharm, OBE), a pharmacist and parent of an autistic son, is Honorary Director of the Autism Research Unit (ARU), University of Sunderland, UK. He is Chairman of ESPA (European Service for People with Autism) which provides teaching and residential services for young adults with autism and Vice-President of the World Autism Organisation (WAO) having previously been secretary for Autisme-Europe. His research interests include rights and models of service provision for people with autism, biomedical and environmental factors implicated in autism, and the use and abuse of medication for autism. [cite web |title= Autism Research Unit: history & current research |author= Whiteley P |url=http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism/aru.htm |date=2007-12-07 |accessdate=2007-12-31]

The research undertaken by Shattock at the ARU investigated the theory that autism is a consequence of a metabolic disorder, whereby certain biologically active peptides and other related compounds (derived mainly but not exclusively from dietary gluten and/or casein) are not metabolised correctly in the autist, and along with Kalle Reichelt led to the widespread use of the Gluten-free, casein-free diet in treating autism. [cite web |url=http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism/durham95.html |title= Back to the future: an assessment of some of the unorthodox forms of biomedical intervention currently being applied to autism |author= Shattock P |date=2006 |accessdate=2007-12-31]

Dr Shattock has published in peer-refereed journals, such as "Autism", the "Journal of Child Neurology", and the" Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology"Fact|date=July 2008. Studies supporting claims for elimination diets have had significant flaws, so the data are inadequate to guide autism treatment recommendations. [cite journal |journal= J Dev Behav Pediatr |date=2006 |volume=27 |issue=2 Suppl 2| pages=S162–71 |title= Elimination diets in autism spectrum disorders: any wheat amidst the chaff? |author= Christison GW, Ivany K |pmid=16685183 |doi= 10.1097/00004703-200604002-00015] As no other recognised medical treatments for autism exist at this timeFact|date=July 2008, however, many parents and adults with autism have experimented with dietary changes to reduce gastrointestinal problems and improve physical health and comfort, some with beneficial resultsFact|date=July 2008.

In 1998 Paul Shattock was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his more than 30 years of service to the autism community.Fact|date=December 2007

References

External links

* [http://osiris.sunderland.ac.uk/autism/ Autism Research Unit, University of Sunderland]