Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28439105›Full record

SynthesisMolecular psychiatry2018

Autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis of executive function.

E A Demetriou, A Lampit, D S Quintana, S L Naismith, Y J C Song, J E Pye, I Hickie, A J Guastella

3 registry-linked trialsOpen access · hybridAbstract readMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Molecular psychiatry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 3 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 390 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
390citing papers in PubMed, 11 pooled it
21.1field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07104708 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Systematic Exercise Training on Core Symptoms, Executive Function and Brain Function in Children With ASD

TypeinterventionalSponsorChen LiRan2025 to 2028Enrolled70ConditionsAutism Spectrum DisorderArmsThe Child-Parent- Trainer exercise program, The regular physical training
NCT07149974 naenrolling by invitationnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Developing an EEG-fNIRS Neurofeedback Application for Brain Training for Autistic Children

TypeinterventionalSponsorEducation University of Hong KongRan2025 to 2026Enrolled30ConditionsAutism, Autistic Disorders Spectrum, Neurofeedback, EEGArmsEEG and fNIRS, EEG, fNIRS
NCT07505290 naactive not recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Efficacy of the Korean PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K) Social Skills Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

TypeinterventionalSponsorSeoul National University Bundang HospitalRan2026 to 2027Enrolled60ConditionsAutism Spectrum DisorderArmsThe Korean version of PEERS® for Preschoolers (PEERS®-PS-K)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

390 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 767 citations in OpenAlex.

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330 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

E A DemetriouAutism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
A LampitSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
D S QuintanaAutism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
S L NaismithSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Y J C SongAutism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
J E PyeSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
I HickieAutism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
A J GuastellaAutism Clinic for Translational Research, Brain and Mind Centre, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
University of Sydney · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Evidence of executive dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across development remains mixed and establishing its role is critical for guiding diagnosis and intervention. The primary objectives of this meta-analysis is to analyse executive function (EF) performance in ASD, the fractionation across EF subdomains, the clinical utility of EF measures and the influence of multiple moderators (for example, age, gender, diagnosis, measure characteristics). The Embase, Medline and PsychINFO databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies published since the inclusion of Autism in DSM-III (1980) up to end of June 2016 that compared EF in ASD with neurotypical controls. A random-effects model was used and moderators were tested using subgroup analysis. The primary outcome measure was Hedges' g effect size for EF and moderator factors. Clinical sensitivity was determined by the overlap percentage statistic (OL%). Results were reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A total of 235 studies comprising 14 081 participants were included (N, ASD=6816, Control=7265). A moderate overall effect size for reduced EF (Hedges' g=0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-0.53) was found with similar effect sizes across each domain. The majority of moderator comparisons were not significant although the overall effect of executive dysfunction has gradually reduced since the introduction of ASD. Only a small number of EF measures achieved clinical sensitivity. This study confirms a broad executive dysfunction in ASD that is relatively stable across development. The fractionation of executive dysfunction into individual subdomains was not supported, nor was diagnostic sensitivity. Development of feasible EF measures focussing on clinical sensitivity for diagnosis and treatment studies should be a priority.

Indexed as

AdolescentAutism Spectrum DisorderAutistic DisorderChildExecutive FunctionFemaleHumansMaleYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID28439105
PMCPMC5984099
OpenAlexW2609210742

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.