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Mental health
Early intervention in autism: where do we go from here?
  1. Emily Cary1,
  2. Eugene Arnold2
  1. 1Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  2. 2Nisonger Center Clinical Trials Program, Ohio State University Foundation, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Emily Cary; emily.cary{at}osumc.edu

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2024-103953

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    Commentary on: Autism intervention meta-analysis of early childhood studies (Project AIM): updated systematic review and secondary analysis - Sandbank et al 2023

    Implications for practice and research

    • Nurses may consider advocating for autistic clients by recommending naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention and other early interventions when appropriate and providing multidisciplinary care in collaboration with interventionists.

    • More robust research methods are needed, including randomised controlled trials of early interventions for autism that assess adverse effects to ensure benefits outweigh any risks.

    Context

    Behaviourists pioneered early intervention for autism in the 1960s using operant learning principles. The intervention was dubbed applied behavioural analysis (ABA). In the 1990s, naturalistic developmental behavioural intervention (NDBI) expanded behaviour intervention to include children as active learners with an emphasis on developmentally appropriate implementation using natural contingencies. Currently, there is a plethora of early intervention options but it is unclear which interventions are most effective. Effectiveness can vary based on the goals of intervention and how they’re measured, making it difficult for providers to navigate …

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    Footnotes

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests EA has received research funding from Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Roche/Genentech Phanaceuticals, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Axial, Yamo, Maplight. Myndlift, YoungLiving Essential Oils and National Institute of Health (USA, R01 MH 100144), has consulted with Pfizer Parmaceuticals, Yamo and CHADD and been on advisory boards for Otsuka and Roche/Genentech.

    • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.