Autism intervention meta-analysis of early childhood studies (Project AIM): updated systematic review and secondary analysis

Abstract

Objective To summarize the breadth and quality of evidence supporting commonly recommended early childhood autism interventions and their estimated effects on developmental outcomes. Design Updated systematic review and meta-analysis (autism intervention meta-analysis; Project AIM). Data sOurces A search was conducted in November 2021 (updating a search done in November 2017) of the following databases and registers: Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus with full text, Education Source, Educational Administration Abstracts, ERIC, Medline, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and SocINDEX with full text, Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov. eligibility criteria fOr selecting stuDies Any controlled group study testing the effects of any non-pharmacological intervention on any outcome in young autistic children younger than 8 years. review methODs Newly identified studies were integrated into the previous dataset and were coded for participant, intervention, and outcome characteristics. Interventions were categorized by type of approach (such as behavioral, developmental, naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention, and technology based), and outcomes were categorized by domain (such as social communication, adaptive behavior, play, and language). Risks of bias were evaluated following guidance from Cochrane. Effects were estimated for all intervention and outcome types