What Researchers Did
Researchers summarized the evidence from 17 Cochrane systematic reviews on various interventions for autism spectrum disorders.
What They Found
Out of 17 Cochrane systematic reviews, weak evidence of benefits was found for interventions such as acupuncture, gluten and casein-free diets, early intensive behavioral interventions, music therapy, and certain medications like aripiprazole and risperidone. No benefits were identified for sound therapies, chelating agents, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, omega-3, secretin, vitamin B6/magnesium, or SSRIs in children.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with autism spectrum disorders might consider discussing interventions like early intensive behavioral therapy or music therapy with their healthcare providers, given the weak evidence of potential benefits. However, they should be aware that many other interventions, including certain dietary changes and medications for children, showed no clear benefits.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The identified benefits for several interventions were based on very low to low-quality evidence, indicating a need for more robust research.