ReviewMedicine2026
Past, present, and future of non-pharmacological interventions for autism spectrum disorder: A global bibliometric and thematic analysis (2001-2025).
Review in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNon-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) have become increasingly important in addressing the complex and heterogeneous needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly in light of the limitations associated with pharmacological treatments.
objectiveThis study aimed to systematically map the global research landscape and thematic evolution of NPIs for ASD from 2001 to 2025 using bibliometric approaches.
methodsA total of 341 English-language articles were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Microsoft Excel and Biblioshiny were employed to perform descriptive analysis, co-authorship network mapping, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and thematic evolution analysis based on Keywords Plus.
resultsThe findings indicate a sustained increase in research output, particularly after 2011, with publication volume peaking in 2024 and citation impact continuing to rise. Music therapy, applied behavior analysis, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation emerged as the most influential intervention approaches. The United States led in both publication volume and academic impact, followed by China and the United Kingdom. Thematic evolution analysis revealed a gradual shift from behavior-oriented frameworks toward mechanism-informed and context-sensitive approaches, with increasing attention to early intervention, population heterogeneity, and family involvement.
conclusionResearch on NPIs for ASD is undergoing a transition toward more integrative, individualized, and evidence-based paradigms. Future studies should prioritize longitudinal designs, cross-cultural validation, and the translation of mechanistic insights into scalable, real-world interventions.
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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.