The paper presents current views concerning childhood autism. The authorspresent the concepts of etiology of this disorder, emphasizing the role of negative psychical stimuliin early childhood and the role of mother's contact with the child. Organic factors, including geneticbackground, developmental abnormalities of the nervous system, teratogenic factors and perinatal traumasare also taken into consideration. The role of metabolic factors and enterohormones, particularly thosebelonging to the secretin group and their effect on the function of the gastrointestinal tract and centralnervous system is emphasized. We discuss signs which may be indicative of first symptoms of autism indifferent age groups. A typical symptom of autism is no development of speech, observed from infancy,taking the form of complete mutism at later stages. It has been emphasized that most pathologic symptomsresult from altered perception of external stimuli, which arouse fear and anxiety. Autistic patientsmay suffer from gastrointestinal tract disturbances such as abdominal pains and diarrhea. Methods usedhitherto in the therapy of childhood autism, mainly by psychologists and psychiatrists, as well as someattempts of pharmacological treatment, are presented. The structure and function of secretin, as wellas its effects on the motor and secretory function of the stomach and the exocrine function of the pancreasare discussed. The role of secretin in diagnostic tests, among others in the diagnosis of gastrinoma,is emphasized. We also present the history of the application of secretin in the therapy of childhoodautism.

Keywords: Autistic Disorder, Child, Child, Preschool, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Secretin