UCL Discovery Stage
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery Stage

Benefits and harms of interventions to improve anxiety, depression, and other mental health outcomes for autistic people: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Linden, Audrey; Best, Lawrence; Elise, Freya; Roberts, Danielle; Branagan, Aoife; Tay, Yong Boon Ernest; Crane, Laura; ... Gurusamy, Kurinchi; + view all (2022) Benefits and harms of interventions to improve anxiety, depression, and other mental health outcomes for autistic people: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Autism: the international journal of research and practice 10.1177/13623613221117931. (In press). Green open access

[thumbnail of Crane_13623613221117931.pdf]
Preview
Text
Crane_13623613221117931.pdf

Download (566kB) | Preview

Abstract

Mental health difficulties are prevalent in autistic people with ~14%–50% having experienced depression and ~40%–80% having experienced anxiety disorders. Identifying interventions that improve autistic people’s mental health is a top priority. However, at present, there is no high-quality network meta-analysis of benefits and harms of different interventions. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials, searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, other databases, and trial registers until 17 October 2020. We included randomised controlled trials reporting anxiety or depression in a suitable format. We calculated effect estimates and 95% credible intervals using Bayesian network meta-analysis. Our search identified 13,794 reports, of which 71 randomised controlled trials (3630 participants) were eligible for inclusion. All trials had high risk of bias. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 24 months. Evidence indicates uncertainty about the effects of different interventions, with more high-quality evidence needed. Available evidence suggests that some forms of cognitive behavioural therapy may decrease anxiety and depression scores in autistic children and adults; mindfulness therapy may decrease anxiety and depression scores in autistic adults with previous mental health conditions; and behavioural interventions may provide some benefit for depression in autistic children. We recommend that autistic people are given access to mental health interventions available to non-autistic people, following principles of person-centred care.

Type: Article
Title: Benefits and harms of interventions to improve anxiety, depression, and other mental health outcomes for autistic people: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1177/13623613221117931
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221117931
Language: English
Additional information: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Psychology and Human Development
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL
URI: https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10152150
Downloads since deposit
1,178Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item