Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41140149›Full record

ReviewBJPsych open2025

Behaviours that challenge in children with intellectual disability: systematic review and meta-analysis of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

Valerie Lye, Angela Hassiotis, Amanda Timmerman, Sohil Alqazlan, Elizaveta Dimitrova, Borbala Vegh, Vaso Totsika

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in BJPsych open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

Valerie LyeDivision of Psychiatry, University College Londonhttps://ror.org/02jx3x895, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9659-4955
Angela HassiotisDivision of Psychiatry, University College Londonhttps://ror.org/02jx3x895, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9800-3909
Amanda TimmermanDivision of Psychiatry, University College Londonhttps://ror.org/02jx3x895, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2552-5140
Sohil AlqazlanSpecial Education Department, College of Education, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7774-8190
Elizaveta DimitrovaDivision of Psychiatry, University College Londonhttps://ror.org/02jx3x895, London, UK.
Borbala VeghDivision of Psychiatry, University College Londonhttps://ror.org/02jx3x895, London, UK.
Vaso TotsikaDivision of Psychiatry, University College Londonhttps://ror.org/02jx3x895, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1702-2727

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBehaviours that challenge are highly prevalent in children with an intellectual disability and can be detrimental to their quality of life and opportunities.

aimsThe systematic review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of current interventions in reducing behaviours that challenge in children with an intellectual disability (≤18 years-old).

methodWe searched five databases (PsychINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and CINAHL) on 26 April 2022 and 1 July 2024, and identified 18 randomised controlled trials (1443 participants) eligible for inclusion since 2014 - 11 investigated non-pharmacological and 9 investigated pharmacological interventions. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.

resultsNon-pharmacological interventions (mostly psychosocial) were significantly effective (Hedges'

conclusionsIt is important to note that most studies included were conducted in Western countries and had small sample sizes, and findings may be due to the outcome measures used. Findings support current recommendations that non-pharmacological interventions should be first-line treatment for behaviours that challenge in this population. Evidence highlighted the need for better quality, adequately powered randomised controlled trials.

Indexed as

challenging behaviourchildren and adolescentsIntellectual disabilityinterventionsmeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID41140149
PMCPMC12569614

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.