Systematic reviews of psychosocial interventions for autism: an umbrella review
Abstract
Aim A wide range of psychosocial interventions for the treatment of individuals with autism‐spectrum disorders (ASDs) have been evaluated in systematic reviews. We conducted an umbrella review of systematic reviews of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for ASD. Method Comprehensive searches were conducted in 25 bibliographic databases, relevant journals and reference lists up to May 2007. Studies included were systematic reviews on any psychosocial intervention for individuals with ASDs. Two reviewers independently assessed study relevance and quality. Results Thirty systematic reviews were included. The majority of reviews evaluated interventions based on behavioural theory (n=9) or communication‐focused (n=7) therapies. Positive intervention outcomes were reported in the majority of the reviews. Methodological quality of the reviews was generally poor. Interpretation The reviews reported positive outcomes for many of the interventions, suggesting that some form of treatment is favourable over no treatment. However, there is little evidence for the relative effectiveness of these treatment options. Many of the systematic reviews had methodological weaknesses that make them vulnerable to bias. There is a need for further systematic reviews that adhere to strict scientific methods and for primary studies that make direct comparisons between different treatment options.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Later programs focusing on functional analysis of problem behaviors were more successful in addressing core deficits.
“Later programs focusing on the functional (that is, contextual) analysis of problem behaviors were more successful in addressing core deficits [3,5,6,32,42,190-196].”
From Social “wanting” dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications (2012) · cites this paper as [192]
Cites
3 retracted
Gluten- and casein-free diets for autistic spectrum disorder
Millward, C., Ferriter, M., Calver, S. J., & Connell-Jones, G. G. (2008) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd003498.pub3 · Cited by 280 · see citing works
RetractedParent-mediated early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorder
Diggle, T. T. J., & McConachie, H. (2002) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd003496 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
RetractedGluten- and casein-free diets for autistic spectrum disorder
Millward, C., Ferriter, M., Calver, S. J., & Connell-Jones, G. G. (2004) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd003498.pub2 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
RetractedMoher, D., Cook, D. J., Eastwood, S., Olkin, I., Rennie, D., & Stroup, D. F. (1999) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(99)04149-5 · Cited by 4,826 · see citing works
Bellini, S., & Akullian, J. (2007) · Exceptional Children · doi:10.1177/001440290707300301 · Cited by 1,016 · see citing works
Research in Special Education: Scientific Methods and Evidence-Based Practices
Odom, S. L., Brantlinger, E. A., Gersten, R. M., Horner, R. H., Thompson, B., & Harris, K. R. (2005) · Exceptional Children · doi:10.1177/001440290507100201 · Cited by 972 · see citing works
Validation of an index of the quality of review articles
Oxman, A. D., & Guyatt, G. H. (1991) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/0895-4356(91)90160-b · Cited by 788 · see citing works
McConachie, H., & Diggle, T. (2007) · Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2753.2006.00674.x · Cited by 627 · see citing works
Problem Behavior Interventions for Young Children with Autism: A Research Synthesis
Horner, R. H., Carr, E. G., Strain, P. S., Todd, A. W., & Reed, H. (2002) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1020593922901 · Cited by 617 · see citing works
Efficacy of sensory and motor interventions for children with autism
Baranek, G. T. (2002) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1020541906063 · Cited by 601 · see citing works
A Systematic Review of Action Imitation in Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Williams, J. H. G., Whiten, A., & Singh, T. (2004) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/b:jadd.0000029551.56735.3a · Cited by 573 · see citing works
Millar, D. C., Light, J., & Schlosser, R. W. (2006) · Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research · doi:10.1044/1092-4388(2006/021 · Cited by 448 · see citing works
Why review articles on the health effects of passive smoking reach different conclusions
Barnes, D. E. (1998) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.279.19.1566 · Cited by 442 · see citing works
Designing Research Studies on Psychosocial Interventions in Autism
Smith, T. H., Scahill, L. D., Dawson, G., Guthrie, D., Lord, C., Odom, S. L., Rogers, S. J., & Wagner, A. (2006) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0173-3 · Cited by 406 · see citing works
Challenges in Evaluating Psychosocial Interventions for Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Lord, C., Wagner, A., Rogers, S. J., Szatmári, P., Aman, M. G., Charman, T., Dawson, G., Durand, V. M., Grossman, L., Guthrie, D., et al. (2005) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-005-0017-6 · Cited by 386 · see citing works
Video Modeling Interventions for Individuals with Autism
Delano, M. E. (2007) · Remedial and Special Education · doi:10.1177/07419325070280010401 · Cited by 330 · see citing works
Music therapy for autistic spectrum disorder
Gold, C., Wigram, T., & Elefant, C. (2006) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd004381.pub2 · Cited by 293 · see citing works
Odom, S. L., Brown, W. H., Frey, T., Karasu, N., Lee Smith-Canter, L., & Strain, P. S. (2003) · Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1177/10883576030180030401 · Cited by 288 · see citing works
Heyvaert, M., Saenen, L., Campbell, J. M., Maes, B., & Onghena, P. (2014) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.06.017 · Cited by 285 · see citing works
Behavioral treatment of autistic persons: A review of research from 1980 to the present
Matson, J. (1996) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/s0891-4222(96)00030-3 · Cited by 275 · see citing works
Bryson, S. E., Rogers, S. J., & Fombonne, E. J. (2003) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/070674370304800802 · Cited by 275 · see citing works
Outcome of early intervention for children with autism
Smith, T. H. (1999) · Clinical Psychology Science and Practice · doi:10.1093/clipsy.6.1.33 · Cited by 248 · see citing works
Music in Intervention for Children and Adolescents with Autism: A Meta-Analysis
Whipple, J. (2004) · Journal of Music Therapy · doi:10.1093/jmt/41.2.90 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
Campbell, J. M. (2003) · Research in Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1016/s0891-4222(03)00014-3 · Cited by 237 · see citing works
Social Stories™ for Children with Disabilities
Reynhout, G., & Carter, M. (2006) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0086-1 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
A Research Synthesis of Social Story Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Sansosti, F. J., Powell‐Smith, K. A., & Kincaid, D. K. (2004) · Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1177/10883576040190040101 · Cited by 210 · see citing works
A Critical Appraisal of Review Articles on the Effectiveness of Conservative Treatment for Neck Pain
Hoving, J. L., Gross, A., Gasner, D., Kay, T., Kennedy, C., Hondras, M., Haines, T., & Bouter, L. M. (2001) · Spine · doi:10.1097/00007632-200101150-00015 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Jadad, A. R., & McQuay, H. J. (1996) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/0895-4356(95)00062-3 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Hwang, B.-S., & Hughes, C. (2000) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1005579317085 · Cited by 198 · see citing works
Risperidone for autism spectrum disorder
Jesner, O., Aref‐Adib, M., & Coren, E. (2007) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd005040.pub2 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Meta-Analyses in Orthopaedic Surgery
Bhandari, M., Morrow, F., Kulkarni, A. V., & Tornetta, P. (2001) · Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery · doi:10.2106/00004623-200101000-00003 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Facilitated Communication Since 1995: A Review of Published Studies
Mostert, M. P. (2001) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1023/a:1010795219886 · Cited by 175 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Mostert et al.(12) examined recently published studies on facilitative communication for communicatively impaired or non-communicative children and adults with autism or learning disabilities.”
BackgroundAutism, Augmentative Communication, and Assistive Technology
Mirenda, P. (2001) · Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1177/108835760101600302 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Effects and Implications of Self-Management for Students With Autism
Lee, S.-H., Simpson, R. L., & Shogren, K. A. (2007) · Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1177/10883576070220010101 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Using Dissertations to Examine Potential Bias in Child and Adolescent Clinical Trials.
McLeod, B. D., & Weisz, J. R. (2004) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.72.2.235 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Issues and research in special education
Gaylord‐Ross, R. (1992) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Roberts, J., Prior, M. R., & Trembath, D. L. (2006) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e506622012-001 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Sinha, Y., Silove, N., Wheeler, D. M., & Williams, K. J. (2006) · Archives of Disease in Childhood · doi:10.1136/adc.2006.094649 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
A Meta-Analysis of Positive Behavior Support
Marquis, J. G., Horner, R. H., Carr, E. G., Turnbull, A. P., Thompson, M., Behrens, G. A., McLaughlin, D. M., McAtee, M. L., Smith, C. E., Ryan, K. A., et al. (2000) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781410605962-11 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Many Reviews Are Systematic but Some Are More Transparent and Completely Reported than Others
Editors, T. P. M. (2007) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040147 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Evolution of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Treatment of Individuals With Autism
Wolery, M. R., Barton, E. E., & Hine, J. F. (2005) · Exceptionality · doi:10.1207/s15327035ex1301_3 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Autism and Lovaas treatment: a systematic review of effectiveness evidence.
(2001) · PubMed · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Autism, autistic spectrum and the need for better definition
Tonge, B. J. (2002) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04480.x · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Synthesizing information systems knowledge: A typology of literature reviews
Paré, G., Trudel, M.-C., Jaana, M., & Kitsiou, S. (2015) · Information & Management · doi:10.1016/j.im.2014.08.008 · Cited by 1,987 · see citing works
Levy, S. E., Mandell, D. S., & Schultz, R. T. (2009) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(09)61376-3 · Cited by 651 · see citing works
Ospina, M. B., Krebs Seida, J., Clark, B., Karkhaneh, M., Hartling, L., Tjosvold, L., Vandermeer, B., & Smith, V. (2008) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0003755 · Cited by 366 · see citing works
Self-citationSocial “wanting” dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications
Kohls, G., Chevallier, C., Troiani, V., & Schultz, R. T. (2012) · Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders · doi:10.1186/1866-1955-4-10 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
High-Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder: Utility and Meaning for Families
Ruiz Calzada, L., Pistrang, N., & Mandy, W. P. L. (2012) · Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1238-5 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Magiati, I., Tay, X. W., & Howlin, P. (2012) · Neuropsychiatry · doi:10.2217/npy.12.59 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
- Authors
- SEIDA, J. K., OSPINA, M. B., KARKHANEH, M., HARTLING, L., SMITH, V., & CLARK, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Alberta (CA)
- Venue
- Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-01-15
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 95-104
- ISSN
- 0012-1622 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8749
- OpenAlex
- W2082653846
- Semantic Scholar
- a9ce870ef996254244030051032b6f79405454bf
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 0.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Alberta
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, psychosocial interventions, behavioral interventions, treatment effectiveness, methodological quality of systematic reviews, umbrella review, evidence-based treatment
- MeSH terms
- Systematic Reviews as Topic, Autistic Disorder, Humans, Social Behavior, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Databases, Bibliographic, Outcome Assessment, Health Care
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
