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Research-Based Intervention (RBI) for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Looking beyond Traditional Models and Outcome Measures for Clinical Trials

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Narzisi, Antonio, Alonso-Esteban, Yurena, Masi, Gabriele, Alcantud-Marín, Francisco·2022·Children
DOI 10.3390/children9030430PMC PMC8947461
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Abstract

The rising prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has led to a quickly increasing need for effective interventions. Several criteria and measures have been developed to critically assess these interventions with particular focus on the evaluation of the efficacy. Given the huge diversity of ASD symptoms and the different levels of severity across individuals, identifying a one size fits all intervention approach is challenging, and the question What works and for whom? Remains still unanswered. Why do we seem to be dragging our feet on this fundamental issue? The main aim of this paper is to answer this question through four non-alternative points. First, there are a scarce number of studies with a solid methodology. Secondly, most trials on intervention efficacy for ASD are designed exclusively in terms of behavioral outcomes. Thirdly, there is a reduced use of biologically oriented outcome measures. Fourthly, in most clinical trials, appropriate practices emerging from research evidence are not systematically applied. A strong effort to improve the methodology of clinical trials is mandatory for the future of autism research. The development of a research-based intervention (RBI) perspective aimed at better integrating: (a) evidence-based approaches; (b) more sensitive behavioral outcome measures; and (c) biomarkers, with the aim of increasing a more detailed clustering of phenotypes, may strongly improve our approach to a precision medicine.

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  • The development of sensitive behavioral measures, along with specialized biomarkers, will allow a better understanding of the specific factors contributing to anxiety in ASD and can help research on the causes of concurrent anxiety in autistic people and provide targets for improving intervention.

    “El desarrollo de medidas conductuales sensibles, junto con algunos biomarcadores especializados (Narzisi et al., 2022), permitirá una mejor comprensión de los factores específicos que contribuyen a la ansiedad en el TEA y puede ayudar a la investigación sobre las causas de la ansiedad concurrente en personas autistas y también proporcionar objetivos para mejorar la intervención (South y Rodgers, 2”

    From Ansiedad y trastornos del espectro del autismo: notas para la intervención psicoeducativa (2022) · cites this paper as Narzisi et al., 2022

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Authors
Narzisi, A., Alonso-Esteban, Y., Masi, G., & Alcantud-Marín, F.
Affiliations
  • Fondazione Stella Maris (IT)
  • Universitat de València (ES)
  • Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, Avenida de Blasco Ibáñez, 13, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Corresponding author
Narzisi, Antonio
ORCID
Venue
Children
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2022-03-18
Volume
9
Issue
3
Pages
430
ISSN
2227-9067 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/children9030430
PMC
PMC8947461
OpenAlex
W4220896671
Cited by
5
References
6
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Children (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
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, research-based interventions, intervention efficacy, clinical trial design, biomarkers, precision medicine, autism phenotype, evidence-based practice

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