What do Cochrane systematic reviews say about interventions for autism spectrum disorders?

Authors

  • Larissa Lyra Universidade Federal de São Paulo
  • Luiz Eduardo Rizzo Universidade Federal de São Paulo
  • Camila Sá Sunahara Universidade Federal de São Paulo
  • Daniela Vianna Pachito Universidade Federal de São Paulo
  • Carolina de Oliveira Cruz Latorraca Universidade Federal de São Paulo
  • Ana Luiza Cabrera Martimbianco Universidade Federal de São Paulo
  • Rachel Riera Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Keywords:

Autism spectrum disorder, Therapeutics, Review [Publication type], Evidence-based practice, Evidence-based medicine

Abstract

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) include autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder and pervasive developmental disorder. The manifestations of ASDs can have an important impact on learning and social functioning that may persist during adulthood. The aim here was to summarize the evidence from Cochrane systematic reviews on interventions for ASDs. DESIGN AND SETTING: Review of systematic reviews, conducted within the Discipline of evidence-Based Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo. METHODS: We included and summarized the results from Cochrane systematic reviews on interventions for ASDs. RESULTS: Seventeen reviews were included. These found weak evidence of benefits from acupuncture, gluten and casein-free diets, early intensive behavioral interventions, music therapy, parent-mediated early interventions, social skill groups, Theory of Mind cognitive model, aripiprazole, risperidone, tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI); this last only for adults. No benefits were found for sound therapies, chelating agents, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, omega-3, secretin, vitamin B6/magnesium and SSRI for children. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture, gluten and casein-free diets, early intensive behavioral interventions, music therapy, parent-mediated early interventions, social skill groups and the Theory of Mind cognitive model seem to have benefits for patients with autism spectrum disorders (very low to low-quality evidence). Aripiprazole, risperidone, tricyclic antidepressants and SSRI (this last only for adults) also showed some benefits, although associated with higher risk of adverse events. Experimental studies to confirm a link between probable therapies and the disease, and then high-quality long-term clinical trials, are needed.

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Author Biographies

Larissa Lyra, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Undergraduate Medical Student, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

Luiz Eduardo Rizzo, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Undergraduate Medical Student, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

Camila Sá Sunahara, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Undergraduate Medical Student, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

Daniela Vianna Pachito, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

MD, MSc. Neurologist; Postgraduate Student, Evidence-Based Health Program, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo (SP), Brazil; and Assistant Researcher at Cochrane Brazil, São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

Carolina de Oliveira Cruz Latorraca, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Psychologist. Postgraduate Student, Evidence-Based Health Program, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo (SP), Brazil; and Assistant Researcher, Cochrane Brazil, São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

Ana Luiza Cabrera Martimbianco, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

MSc, PhD. Physiotherapist and Assistant Researcher, Cochrane Brazil, São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

Rachel Riera, Universidade Federal de São Paulo

MD, MSc, PhD. Rheumatologist and Adjunct Professor, Discipline of Evidence-Based Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp); and Assistant Coordinator, Cochrane Brazil, São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

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Published

2017-05-02

How to Cite

1.
Lyra L, Rizzo LE, Sunahara CS, Pachito DV, Latorraca C de OC, Martimbianco ALC, Riera R. What do Cochrane systematic reviews say about interventions for autism spectrum disorders?. Sao Paulo Med J [Internet]. 2017 May 2 [cited 2025 Mar. 14];135(2):192-201. Available from: https://periodicosapm.emnuvens.com.br/spmj/article/view/735

Issue

Vol. 135 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Cochrane Highlights

License

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.