Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Contents
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................ES-1
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................1
Need for Evidence for Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children ........................1
Behavioral Interventions ......................................................................................................4
Educational Interventions ....................................................................................................5
Medical and Related Interventions ......................................................................................6
Allied Health Interventions ..................................................................................................9
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Interventions .....................................11
Importance of This Review ................................................................................................12
Scope of This Evidence Report..........................................................................................12
Key Questions and Analytic Framework ...............................................................................13
Key Questions ....................................................................................................................13
Analytic Framework for Therapies for Children With ASDs ............................................14
Organization of This Evidence Report ..............................................................................14
Technical Expert Panel (TEP) ...........................................................................................15
Uses of This Report ...........................................................................................................15
Methods..........................................................................................................................................17
Literature Review Methods ....................................................................................................17
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria ........................................................................................17
Literature Search and Retrieval Process ............................................................................19
Categorization of Interventions..........................................................................................19
Literature Synthesis ................................................................................................................21
Development of Evidence Table and Data Abstraction Process .......................................21
Assessing Methodological Quality of Individual Studies ..................................................22
Strength of Available Evidence .........................................................................................27
Results ............................................................................................................................................28
Article Selection .....................................................................................................................28
KQ1. Effects of Treatment on Core and Commonly Associated Symptoms in Children
With ASDs: Behavioral Interventions ...................................................................................29
Early Intensive Behavioral and Developmental Interventions ..........................................30
Social Skills Interventions .................................................................................................37
Play-/Interaction-Based Interventions ...............................................................................42
Behavioral Interventions Focused on Associated Behaviors .............................................45
Other Behavioral Interventions ..........................................................................................50
KQ1. Effects of Treatment on Core and Commonly Associated Symptoms in Children
With ASDs: Educational Interventions .................................................................................52
TEACCH............................................................................................................................53
Broad-Based Educational Approaches ..............................................................................55
Computer-Based Educational Approaches ........................................................................57
KQ1. Effects of Treatment on Core and Commonly Associated Symptoms in Children
With ASDs: Medical Interventions .......................................................................................59
Antipsychotics....................................................................................................................60
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ...........................................................................................67
Stimulants and Other Medications To Treat Hyperactivity ...............................................70
Secretin ..............................................................................................................................72
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