Good Practice Guidelines for the treatment of autistic spectrum disorders

Background:

Due to the inexistence of an aetiology-based intervention for Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) families and professionals are exposed to diverse and sometimes conflictive recommendations when they have to decide the most adequate alternative for treatment.

Objectives:

For the first time in Spanish and updated to 2007 the ASD Study Group of the (National) Institute of Health Carlos III has reviewed (1995-2007) more than 20 different interventions following the clasification principles of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) and has summarized treatment guidelines for this population analyzing efficacy and effectiveness.

Methods:

All data in this work is extracted firstly by 1) the available evidence based medical and psychological databases  trough Tripdatabase- 2) Practice Parameters published  by World Government Organizations (NY, California, Maine-Manchester, Ontario, and Sydney) 3) Reports from International Institutions and Scientific Societies like the American Academy of Neurology or A.A. of Pediatrics and finally 4) the opinion and experience of a multidisciplinary expertise panel of 16 Spanish proffesionals.

Results:

In general, based recommendations are in the weaker degrees of EBM classifications. Nevertheless, there is widespread agreement to stress that education with special incidence in the development of communication and social competence, with the addition of community support are nowdays the main means of treatment. This can be complemented, depending on individual needs, with medication, behavioural approaches and cognitive behavioural therapy for associated psychological problems in persons with higher cognitive level.

Conclusions: No simple treatment algorithm can be produced at this time at the level of available evidence.