Parent-Mediated Interventions for Infants under 24 Months at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric neurology
• Developmental psychology
• Clinical trials

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms can emerge within the first year of life.
• Early identification and intervention are critical for infants at risk.
• Parent-mediated interventions are a focus for early support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on parent-mediated interventions for infants under 24 months at risk for ASD.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on ASD diagnosis and infant outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and grey literature up to November 2019.
• Included infants under 24 months identified as at risk for ASD.
• Analyzed intervention effects on ASD diagnosis and infant outcomes.

Main Results:

• Seven RCTs were identified, exhibiting significant heterogeneity in methodology and outcome measures.
• Interventions did not demonstrate a reduction in the risk of later ASD diagnosis.
• Post-intervention effects on infant outcomes were inconsistent; five studies showed improvements in both treatment and control groups.
• Moderate evidence suggests intervention effects on parental interaction skills, but limitations exist.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence from RCTs does not support parent-mediated interventions for reducing ASD diagnosis risk in infants under 24 months.
• The heterogeneity and limitations across studies restrict the generalizability of findings.
• Further high-quality research is needed to clarify the efficacy of early interventions.