Analysis Finds Weak Evidence for Most Autism Treatments

Only a small fraction of autism therapies are supported by robust scientific evidence, according to three reviews published in the May issue of Pediatrics.Whether through doctors, teachers or the grapevine, parents of children with autism encounter an overwhelming array of potential treatments for the disorder, ranging from antipsychotic medications and dietary supplements to intensive behavioral interventions, music or animal therapies.The new reviews — on drug treatments, behavioral interventions and the gut hormone secretin, respectively — summarize the findings of a 900-page analysis commissioned by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Of the 159 studies included in the large analysis, the researchers deemed 90 to be of poor quality, 56 fair and 13 good, based on their precision, consistency with the wider literature and risk of bias.Read more at...SFARI, April 2011.