Comparative efficacy of executive function interventions for Chinese children with neurodevelopmental disorders: A...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Executive function (EF) deficits are central to neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and ASD.
• EF interventions offer potential for primary prevention and adjunct rehabilitation in children.
• Understanding the efficacy of EF interventions in diverse populations is crucial for clinical translation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate evidence-based executive function interventions in Chinese children.
• To assess intervention effects on working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility.
• To explore the clinical translation potential of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on EF interventions in Chinese children was conducted across multiple databases.
• Two independent reviewers screened literature, extracted data, and assessed study bias.
• Network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using RevMan 5.4 and R software.

Main Results:

• Fifty-two RCTs involving 2,986 children (ages 3-12) met the inclusion criteria.
• Network meta-analyses revealed significant, domain-specific improvements across all three core EF components.
• Treatment 2 most enhanced working memory (SMD=0.073), while Treatment 3 maximized inhibitory control (SMD=0.093) and cognitive flexibility (SMD=0.097).

Conclusions:

• Structured EF interventions yield statistically significant, albeit modest, effects in Chinese children.
• Findings preliminarily support non-pharmacological cognitive interventions for public health and rehabilitation.
• Further large-scale, long-term validation is necessary before widespread implementation in clinical and educational settings.