Question:
How effective is Applied Behavio(u)r Analysis for people with Autism?
Answer:
Plain language
summary
The effectiveness of "Applied Behavioural Analysis" (ABA) for
autism compared to any other intervention was inconclusive due to
the quality of research evidence available. However one study
included in this summary suggests' "Pivotal Response Treatment"
(PRT) is significantly more effective than ABA for improving
communication outcomes for people with Autism.
Clinical and research
implications
No definite clinical implications may be made based on the
evidence included in this BEST summary. It was highlighted that
further high quality studies are required that are appropriately
powered, use-no treatment controls or match treatment intensity and
duration across groups, and that evaluate broader outcomes. We also
suggest that any further meta-analyses of studies in this field of
research consider evaluating groups of studies that share the same
type of comparison group.
What do guidelines say?
No relevant NICE guidelines were identified regarding behaviour
analysis. However NICE (CG170) recommends the following for
challenging behaviour in children with autism;
"If no coexisting mental health or behavioural problem,
physical disorder or environmental problem has been identified as
triggering or maintaining the behaviour that challenges, offer the
child or young person a psychosocial intervention (informed by a
functional assessment of behaviour) as a first-line
treatment"
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