Packing

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'''Packing,''' ("''le packing''" in French) also sometimes called '''therapeutic body wraps''', is the pseudoscientific and inhumane practice of wrapping people in cold wet cloths. It is a therapy used for [[autism]] in [[France]], and has also been used to treat psychosis.

While packing has been banned in France since 2012, some people continue to do it unofficially.<ref>[https://www.west-info.eu/put-an-end-to-packing-therapy-for-autistic-children/ Put an end to "packing therapy" for autistic children] — West</ref> [[WOMBAT|Studies on packing have continued despite the ban.]]<ref>[https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198726 Therapeutic body wraps (TBW) for treatment of severe injurious behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A 3-month randomized controlled feasibility study]</ref>

==How it works==
The patient is stripped down naked or to their underwear. They are wrapped in towels that have been soaked in cold water, with only their head left free. Then they are wrapped in blankets, supposedly to warm them up. They are then made to lie this way for about 45 minutes. While they shiver, staff may talk to them about their feelings.<ref name="lancet2007">[https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2807%2961322-1/fulltext Therapy for autistic children causes outcry in France] — The Lancet</ref> This may even be done to nonspeaking children.

Supposedly this is to improve awareness of the body and reduce anxiety.<ref>[https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/packing-autistic-kids-a-french-scandal "Packing" Autistic Kids: A French Scandal]</ref> Pierre Delion has claimed that it causes a child to temporarily regress and feel more secure.<ref>[https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(08)60339-6/fulltext Packing therapy for autism] — The Lancet</ref> (What's more secure than feeling like you're going to freeze to death?)

No supporter of packing has produced evidence that it's better than getting your kid a weighted blanket and having some nice conversations.

===Psychoanalysis===
Packing is more popular with proponents of [[psychoanalysis]],<ref>[http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2012/11/shameful-film-about-autism-in-france.html Shameful — A Film about Autism in France] — Thinking Person's Guide to Autism</ref> who believe that autism (a predominantly [[genetic]] developmental condition) is actually a type of psychosis caused by a poor bond between mother and child.<ref name="local">[https://www.thelocal.fr/20180418/frances-problem-with-autism-and-its-roots-in-psychoanalysis France's problem with autism – and its roots in psychoanalysis] - The Local</ref> This hearkens back to the debunked 20<sup>th</sup> century theory that autism was caused by "[[refrigerator mother]]s", i.e., mothers who were cold and unavailable.

Parents who speak up against psychoanalysis may face threats of having their children taken away.<ref>[https://blog.theautismsite.greatergood.com/france-autism/ Some Autistic Children Are Still Undergoing Tortuous "Treatments" Because Of This Harmful Theory] — The Autism Site Blog</ref>

===Evidence===
The only support for this theory consists of a few adult [[Case-control study|case studies]].<ref name="tpga">[http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2012/01/culture-of-abuse-autism-care-in-france.html A Culture of Abuse: Autism Care in France] — Thinking Person's Guide to Autism</ref> If you found out that people you love would freeze you half to death for the better part of an hour if you acted too autistic, you'd probably "improve" your behavior pretty quickly.

==Opposition==
{{cquote|We have reached the consensus that practitioners and families around the world should consider this approach unethical. Furthermore, this "therapy" ignores current knowledge about autism spectrum disorders; goes against [[Evidence-based medicine|evidence-based practice parameters and treatment guidelines]] published in the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Spain]], [[Italy]], [[Hungary]], and [[Australia]]; and, in our view, poses a risk of preventing these children and adolescents from accessing their basic [[human rights]] to health and education.|||Against ''Le Packing'': A Consensus Statement<ref>[https://www.autismeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Against-Le-Packing-2011.pdf Against Le Packing: A Consensus Statement]</ref>}}

Parents, professionals, and autistic people have spoken up against the practice of packing. Experts recommend that time instead be spent on more productive activities, like teaching communication skills.<ref name="lancet2007" />

Critics have also pointed out that teaching children to strip down in front of strangers without complaint may make them more vulnerable to [[Child sexual abuse|sexual abuse]].<ref>[https://autismum.com/2012/01/18/le-packing-pack-it-in/ Le Packing – Pack it in] - Autismum</ref>

In October of 2010, 18 leading autism researchers signed a consensus opinion that packing was ineffective and unethical.<ref name="tpga" />

==References==
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{{stub|alternative medicine}}
[[Category:Autism woo]]

Categories: Autism woo