• Xin Jiang, Min Song, Weixun Qin, Jiang Xiao, Xiaoqing Xu, and Qing Yuan.
• Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Feb 18; 101 (7): e28811e28811.

BackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a widespread developmental disorder of the nervous system with an unclear etiology and pathogenesis. Its global incidence is currently increasing, and no effective drugs are available to improve its core symptoms. Nonpharmaceutical therapy can effectively relieve the core symptoms of autism, has fewer side effects than drugs, and is easily accepted by patients. This systematic and network meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of non-pharmaceutical therapy on autism to explore preferable therapeutic options for autism.MethodsOnline databases, including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], SinoMed, Wanfang Database [WF], China Science and Technology Journal Database [VIP], MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library will be searched for randomized controlled trials of nonpharmacological interventions for autism published before October 2021. Two researchers will be independently responsible for the literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Standard paired and Bayesian network meta-analyses will be performed using RevMan 5.3 Software and GEMTC 0.14.3, to compare the efficacy and safety of different nonpharmacological regimens.ResultsThe results of this systematic and network meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive and reliable evidence-based reference for the efficacy and safety of different non-pharmacological interventions for autism.Prospero Registration NumberCRD 42021275571.Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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