Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Evidence Table. Therapies for children with ASD (continued)
Study
Inclusion/ Exclusion
Description Intervention
Criteria/ Population
NR
overlays chosen for clarity matrices), mean ± SD:
Author industry vs. favorite color. G1: NR
relationship Experiment 3 detected G2: 67.0 ± 5.3
disclosures: changes in visual stimuli G3: 75.8 ± 16.2
1 of 3
with and without colored Gender, n (%):
British Medical overlays in children with Male:
Research Council high and low functioning G1: 18 (100)
(royalties for ability.
G2: 12 (75)
intuitive overlays) Assessments:
G3: NR
Design: BPVS, rate of reading Female:
Prospective case test, symptoms of visual G1: 0
series
stress (out of five) G2: 4 (25)
Groups:
G3: NR
G1: Experiment 1 Race/ethnicity:
G2: Experiment 2 NR
G3: Experiment 3 SES:
Ga: colored overlay, Maternal education: NR
chosen for clarity Household income: NR
Gb: colored overlay, Diagnostic approach:
chosen as favorite Referral
Gc: no colored overlay Diagnostic tool/method:
Provider:
NR
NR
Diagnostic category, n
Measure of treatment (%):
fidelity reported: ASD:
No
G1: 18 (100)
Co-interventions held G2: 16 (100)
stable during treatment: G3: 26 (100)
NR
Concomitant therapies:
NR
N at enrollment:*
G1: 18
G2: 16
G3: 26
Other characteristics:
NR
Ludlow et al.,
2008 (continued)
N at follow-up:*
G1: 18
G2: 16
G3: 26
C-154
Baseline
Measures Outcomes
minute, mean ± SD:
G2a: 72.3 ± 29.2
G2b: 65.4 ± 29.7
G2c: 57.8 ± 36.8
G2a/G2c: P < 0.05
G2b/G2c: P < 0.05
G2a/G2b: P < 0.05
Experiment 3:
Accuracy (out of 30)
in sample matching
task, mean ± SD:
G3a: 26.8 ± 4.4
G3c: 26.4 ± 3.9
G3a/G3c: P = NS
Time taken to
complete sample
matching task,
seconds ± SD:
G3a: 112.9 ± 57.0
G3c: 135.7 ± 60.1
G3a/G3c: P < 0.05
Harms:
NR
Modifiers:
Experiment 3: There
were no significant
differences between
low functioning and
high functioning
children with ASD.
There was also no
significant correlation
between age or
Raven’s matrices
scores and time
taken with or without
overlays.
Comments: *None of the partipants in Experiment 2 participated in Experiment 1 or 3, but 13 of the participants from
Experiment 1 also participated in Experiment 3.
Author:
Meguid et al.,
2008
Country:
Egypt
Practice
setting:
Academic
Intervention
setting:
Clinic
Enrollment
period:
Intervention:
Efalex supplement (blend
of high DHA fish oil and
evening primrose oil
containing both omega 3
and 6 fatty acids as well
as vitamin E)
Children with autism (G1)
received 2 capsules twice
per day for 3 months; the
controls (G2) were
healthy and received no
treatment or placebo
Inclusion criteria:
• Autism based on DSM-
IV criteria and CARS
scores
• Good physical health
• Not currently taking
medications or essential
fatty acid supplements
during study
• Agree not to make
changes in treatments
for autism (medical,
nutritional, behavioral,
Overall ratings:
CARS score, mean
± SD:
G1: 39.5 ± 3.86
Medical:
PUFA levels, mean
± SD:
Linolenic:
G1: 0.86 ± 0.44
G2: 3.2 ± 0.72
G1/G2: P < 0.0001
DHA:
G1: 0.95 ± 0.2
Overall ratings:
CARS score,
mean ± SD:
G1: 32.7 ± 3.37
G1/BL: P <
0.0001
Medical:
PUFA levels,
mean ± SD:
Linolenic:
G1: 1.76 ± 0.56
G1/BL: P <
0.0001