Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 9, 2026
A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
Published on: July 31, 2017
Parent-mediated interventions versus usual care in children with autism: A systematic review with meta-analysis and
Objectives:
To evaluate the positive and adverse effects of parent-mediated interventions (PMIs) versus care as usual for children with autism.
Setting:
Systematic review and meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analyses (TSA), following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.
Methods:
We searched for randomised clinical trials of PMIs for children with autism in the databases CENTRAL, EMBASE, LILACS, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and SCI-EXPANDED (up to 13 August, 2025), complemented with manual searches. 12,359 articles were screened. Data were synthesised using meta-analyses and Trial Sequential Analyses (TSA), and risks of bias and certainty of the evidence were evaluated.
Primary And Secondary Outcome Measures:
The primary outcome was autism characteristics. Secondary outcomes were adverse effects, child adaptive functioning, child language, child and parent quality of life, and parental stress. Ten exploratory outcomes were included.
Results:
32 trials (N=1,625) comparing PMIs to usual care, waiting list, or no intervention were included. All trials had a high risk of bias. The multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance was p = 0.013 due to the number of outcomes. Meta-analyses and TSAs showed it could be rejected that PMIs reduced autism characteristics (MD = -0.88; 95% confidence interval -2.92 to 1.15; p = 0.05, 4 trials, N =353, low certainty), child adaptive functioning (7 trials, N =408), child language (4 trials, N =308), or parental stress (7 trials, N =385). Due to insufficient data, the remaining secondary meta-analyses could not be conducted. Meta-analyses of exploratory outcomes showed beneficial effects concerning child behaviour problems and parent sensitivity/synchronicity.
Conclusions:
This meta-analysis found no benefits of PMIs on child autism characteristics, child adaptive functioning, child language, or parental stress. Benefits were found in reduction of child behaviour problems and improved parent sensitivity/synchronicity. The evidence remains uncertain, and more trials including outcomes of adverse effects and quality of life are needed.
Trial Registration:
CRD42022385188 PROSPERO.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:24Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...