Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41302349›Full record

ReviewHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2025

The Effectiveness of Art Therapy on Children and Adolescents with ASD: A Systematic Review of RCTs.

Shijuan Wei, Angel Hor Yan Lai, Howard Wing Hong Ho

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

3 authors.

Shijuan WeiDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.ORCID 0009-0000-8357-5106
Angel Hor Yan LaiDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.ORCID 0000-0002-0438-6591
Howard Wing Hong HoDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social interaction, communication, and behavior. Traditional interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis and sensory integration therapy often lack a person-centered approach. Art therapy offers a creative and holistic alternative for supporting children and adolescents with ASD.

objectivesThis study systematically reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness, modalities, formats, and methodological quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving art therapy interventions for children and adolescents with ASD.

methodsA systematic search of eight databases identified 12 RCTs involving art therapy for children and adolescents with ASD. Intervention outcomes, formats, and methodological rigor were assessed through this systematic review. Methodological rigor was assessed using the Cochrane ROB 2.0 tool, and the Delphi list with four additional items.

resultsArt therapy showed promise in reducing ASD symptoms and stress-related symptoms, and in improving social communication, motor skills, language, and neurodevelopment. Most studies had limitations, including small sample sizes, short durations, a high risk of bias, and low methodological quality.

conclusionsAlthough existing studies suggest that art therapy may benefit children and adolescents with ASD, further rigorously designed studies are required to establish its efficacy and inform evidence-based practice.

Indexed as

art therapyautism spectrum disorderchildren and adolescentsdrama therapymusic therapyrandomized controlled trialssystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41302349
PMCPMC12652869

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.