Scoping Review: Autism Research in Baltic States—What Is Known and What Is Still To Be Studied

Abstract

We conducted a scoping review of the current knowledge about autism in Baltic States: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The aim was to identify publications about autism and potential gaps of knowledge in this region. The search was conducted on March 31, 2016 using PubMed, PsycINFO and EMBASE databases. The search was updated on August 31, 2016; a total of 47 studies were analysed. Current research on autism in Baltic States is still in its beginning. Areas studied were education, medicine, parenting, autism in adulthood, treatments and epidemiology. Education sector is the most researched discipline about autism in Baltic countries especially addressing issue on schooling practices for autistic children. The prevalence of autism is unclear as only one outdated epidemiological study was found. Further epidemiological, clinical intervention research need to be conducted in this region.