Autism

This review is a pragmatic attempt to highlight recent research and some background reading on autism. It should not be considered exhaustive, simply a way of reviewing some of the major developments and current thinking in the area.

Click here to see all the TRIP Evidence Reviews.

Evidence-Based Reviews

• MMR not linked to autism: new study. Hitting the Headlines, 2006
• Perinatal environmental factors and parental psychopathology were associated with risk of autism in Danish children. Evidence-Based Medicine (Requires free registration), 2006
• The Screening Tool for Autism in Two Year Olds can identify children at risk of autism. Evidence-Based Mental Health (Requires free registration), 2005
• There is preliminary evidence (level 4) that social stories are effective in decreasing challenging behaviours and may improve social interaction skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Occupational Therapy CATs, 2005
• Review: existing epidemiological evidence does not show an association between mumps, measles, and rubella vaccination and autism. Evidence-Based Nursing (Requires free registration), 2004
• Bowel virus, autism and MMR. Hitting the Headlines, 2004

Clinical Guidelines

• Autism Exemplar, National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services. 2004.
• National Autism Plan for Children (NPAC), 2003
• Practice parameter: Screening and diagnosis of autism. Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society. 2000
• Early intervention for children with autism. Canadian Paediatric Society, 2004

Systematic Reviews

• Risperidone for autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2007 View review OR Can you answer this related question for extra CPD?
• Intravenous secretin for autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
• Combined vitamin B6-magnesium treatment in autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
• What is the evidence for the effectiveness of behavioural and skill-based early intervention in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? Health Technology Assessment, 2004 View review OR Can you answer this question for extra CPD?
• The effectiveness of pharmacological therapies for young people and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): a critical appraisal of the literature. Health Technology Assessment, 2003
• Auditory integration training and other sound therapies for autism spectrum disorders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2003

Recent articles in core journals

• Prevalence of disorders of the autism spectrum in a population cohort of children in South Thames: the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP). Lancet, 2006
• Auditory integration training and other sound therapies for autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2006
• Infection in the first 2 years of life and autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 2007
• Amygdala volume and nonverbal social impairment in adolescent and adult males with autism. Archives of General Psychiatry, 2006
• Advancing paternal age and autism. Archives of General Psychiatry, 2006
• Effects of season of birth on autism spectrum disorders: fact or fiction? American Journal of Psychiatry, 2006
• Autism from 2 to 9 years of age. Archives of General Psychiatry, 2006
• Association between thimerosal-containing vaccine and autism. JAMA, 2003
• Evidence of brain overgrowth in the first year of life in autism. JAMA, 2003

eTextbooks

• Autistic spectrum disorders. eMedicine
• Pervasive developmental disorder: autism. eMedicine
• Merck Manual
• GP Notebook

Clinical Queries

• An autistic chil of 6 years keeps being reinfected by threadworms. Good hygiene at all times is impossible due to his autism. How often can mebendazole be safely prescribed? Could a prophylactic dose be given as it is causing him great distress? NLH Q&A Service, 2006
• What is the best method of giving an autistic teenager to take medication - he spits out oral & will not tolerate rectal? NLH Q&A Service, 2006
• What benefit is there in eliminating gluten and casein from the diet of an autistic child? NLH Q&A Service, 2006 View answer OR Can you answer this question for extra CPD?
• What is the evidence for the use of secretin for autism? UK Medicines Information Q&A, 2007
• Does groupwork benefit young children with autism in developing their play skills, communication and treating sensory difficulties? NLH Q&A Service, 2006

Patient Information

• NHS Direct
• eMedicine Consumer Health
• Foundation for People with Learning Difficulties
• Better Health Channel
• BUPA