Paul Shattock

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Paul Shattock (B.Pharm, Dip.Ag.Vet.Pharm, OBE), a pharmacist and parent of an autistic son,^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

Some of Shattock's work has been published in the "grey literature", in journals with no formal process of evaluation or peer review^[1], although he has also published in peer-refereed journals, such as Autism, the Journal of Child Neurology, and the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. Studies supporting claims for elimination diets have had significant flaws, so the data are inadequate to guide autism treatment recommendations.^[4] As no other recognised medical treatments for autism exist at this time, 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 results.

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.^{[citation needed]}