Excerpt

This Future Research Needs (FRN) report is based on a draft Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality comparative effectiveness review titled Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults with autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of the review was to synthesize recent research focused on interventions for adolescents and young adults between the ages of 13 and 30 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified). We addressed questions related to: the effectiveness of therapies targeting core symptoms of ASD (impairments in communication, social interaction, and behavior); common medical or mental health comorbidities, including associated symptoms such as irritability; the process of transitioning to adulthood; and family outcomes. The draft review is based on literature searches that were executed between September 2010 and December 2011. The publication of the final review is expected for August 2012.

Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Contributors
• Executive Summary
• Background
  • Context
  • Evidence Gaps
• Methods
  • Identification of Evidence Gaps
  • Criteria for Prioritization
  • Identification of Ongoing Research
  • Engagement of Stakeholders, Researchers, and Funders
• Results
  • Research Needs
  • Round One Prioritization
  • Round Two Prioritization
  • Study Design Considerations for Top-Tier Research Needs
  • Study Design Considerations for Methods Questions and Foundational Research
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Abbreviations
• References
• Appendix A Nonresearch Recommendations/Needs Identified During the Snowball Survey
• Appendix B Prioritization Criteria Methods (PiCMe)
• Appendix C Current and Ongoing Research
• Appendix D Snowball Survey
• Appendix E First Web-Based Prioritization Survey
• Appendix F First-Round Prioritization Survey Results
• Appendix G Second Web-Based Prioritization Survey
• Appendix H Second-Round Prioritization Survey Results

Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services¹, Contract No. 290-2007-10065-I, Prepared by: Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center, Nashville, TN

Suggested citation:

Warren Z, Taylor JL, McPheeters ML, Worley K, Veenstra-Vander Weele J. Future Research Needs: Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Future Research Needs Paper No. 20 (Prepared by Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-2007-10065-I). AHRQ Publication No. 12-EHC129-EF. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. September 2012. www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/reports/final.cfm

This report is based on research conducted by the Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-2007-10065-I). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the author(s), who are responsible for its contents; the findings and conclusions do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Therefore, no statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The information in this report is intended to help health care researchers and funders of research make well-informed decisions in designing and funding research and thereby improve the quality of health care services. This report is not intended to be a substitute for the application of scientific judgment. Anyone who makes decisions concerning the provision of clinical care should consider this report in the same way as any medical research and in conjunction with all other pertinent information, i.e., in the context of available resources and circumstances.

None of the investigators have any affiliation or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report.

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