A Comprehensive Literature Review of Randomized Controlled Trials for Parents of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Parents raising young children with autism spectrum disorder are particularly vulnerable to stress and poor coping mechanisms. The current article describes a comprehensive review of randomized controlled trials which included parents of preschool-age children with autism spectrum disorder. Seven interventions met the review criteria. The studies were strengthened by the use of fidelity measures and developmentally appropriate interventions. However, while all of the studies collected parent measures, none reported significant post-test improvements in parent mental health or other outcomes. Furthermore, numerous issues, such as unclear randomization strategies, small sample sizes, and poor external validity, further limited the ability to draw significant conclusions regarding the promise of the interventions. More research is needed to develop and rigorously test family-centered interventions aimed at improving both child and parent outcomes.