Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Evidence Table. Therapies for children with ASD (continued)
Study
Inclusion/ Exclusion Baseline
Description Intervention
Criteria/ Population Measures Outcomes
NR
therapist (blinded) Mental age:
G2: NR*
G1/BL: P = 0.021
Author industry worked with both NR
Expressive syntax: G2/BL: P = 0.001
relationship groups
Gender, n:
G1: NR*
G1/G2: P = 0.034
disclosures: • Scalp acupuncture G1, n:
G2: NR*
Expressive
NR
performed by physician Male:
Phonology:
semantics:
Design:
(specialized pediatric G1: 5
G1: NR*
G1: 4.4 ± 3.4
RCT
acupuncturist) G2: 7
G2: NR*
G2: 4.1 ± 3.4
Assessments:
Female:
Pragmatics:
G1/BL: P = 0.031
Battery of examinations G1: 5
G1: NR*
G2/BL: P = 0.021
before and after G2: 3
G2: NR*
G1/G2: P = 0.545
treatment, including Race/ethnicity:
Receptive syntax:
communicative assess- NR
G1: NR*
ment and an Arab SES:
G2: NR*
language test
Maternal education: NR
G1/BL: P = NS
Co-interventions held Household income: NR
G2/BL: P = NS
stable during treatment: Diagnostic approach:
G1/G2: P = NS
None
In Study
Expressive
Frequency of contact Diagnostic tool/
syntax:
during study:
method:
G1: NR*
Assessments conducted DSM-IV-T, parent-rated
G2: NR*
once prior to initiation of ADI-R
G1/BL: P = NS
therapy and once post- Diagnostic category, n
G2/BL: P = NS
therapy; twice a week (%):
G1/G2: P = NS
during therapy
Autism: 20 (100)
Phonology:
Concomitant therapies: Other characteristics, n
G1: NR*
NR
(%):
G2: NR*
N at enrollment: Delayed language
G1/BL: P = NS
G1: 10
development: 20 (100)
G2/BL: P = NS
G2: 10
G1/G2: P = NS
N at follow-up:
Pragmatics:
G1: 10
G1: NR*
G2: 10
G2: NR*
G1/BL: P = NS
G2/BL: P = NS
G1/G2: P = NS
Harms:
NR
Allam et al., 2008
Modifiers:
(continued)
Comments: *Data for nonsignificant results was not reported.
NR
Author:
Aman et al., 2005
McDougle et al.,
2005^
Arnold et al.,
2003†
RUPP, 2002‡
Williams et al,
2006º
Anderson et al.,
2007ª
Aman et al., 2008§
Martin et al.,
2004¥
Country:
US
RCT intervention
(8 weeks):
Risperidone or placebo
Dosage by weight:
• 20-45 kg: Initial dose of
0.5 mg at bedtime;
increased to 0.5 mg
twice daily on day 4;
gradually increased in
0.5 mg increments to a
maximum of 2.5 mg/
day (1.0 mg AM, 1.5 mg
bedtime) by day 29
• > 45 kg: slightly acelerated
dose schedule,
with maximal dose of
Inclusion criteria:
• Children meeting DSM-IV
criteria for autistic
disorder, with tantrums,
aggression, self-injurious
behavior, or a combination
of these problems
• Aged 5 to 17 years
• Weight ≥ 15 kg
• Mental age ≥ 18 months
• Clinically significant
behavioral problems with
clinician-determined
rating of ≥ moderate on
CGI-S and score ≥ 18 on
C-116
Overall ratings:
RLRS score, mean ±
SD:^
Overall:
G1: 0.94 ± 0.36
G2: 1.03 ± 0.37
Affectual reactions:
G1: 1.68 ± 0.64
G2: 1.84 ± 0.64
Social skills:
RLRS social
relationship to
people score, mean
± SD:^
G1: 0.60 ± 0.43
G2: 0.72 ± 0.43
Overall ratings:
Rate of positive
response (≥ 25%
improvement on
ABC irritability
subscale and
rating of much
improved or very
much improved on
CGI-I scale), post-
RCT, n (%):‡
G1: 34 (69)**
G2: 6 (12)
G1/G2: P < 0.001
Rate of positive
response, 8 week