1. Bak MYS, Dueñas AD, Reilly AM, Pan Q, Abas H. The Demographics of Autistic Individuals in Social Communication Evidence-Based Practice: a Systematic Review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 1-13.

Social communication, like all inter-human behaviors, are highly affected by an individual’s intersectional identities and memberships of diverse communities. The current systematic literature review investigated the reporting practices of participant demographics and the extent to which under-represented autistic groups were included in social communication intervention studies in the 2020 National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice report. Results show inconsistencies and gaps in reporting participant variables as well as a general lack of representation of diverse autistic communities in social communication intervention research. The results highlight the limitations of current racial categories and considerations for complex intersectional identities. Recommendations for future researchers are also discussed.

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2. Sulu MD, Aydin O, Martella RC, Erden E, Ozen Z. A Meta-Analysis of Applied Behavior Analysis-Based Interventions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Turkey. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 14-44.

Interventions based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) have been determined to be evidenced-based practices and are widely used with individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across the world. Originally developed in the USA, implementation of these interventions has become widespread in the last decade in Turkey. Given the significance of culture in guiding ABA practices, this meta-analysis investigated the prevalence and the magnitude effects of ABA-based interventions and whether specific participant and intervention characteristics moderated such effects in Turkey. Seventy-one ABA-based intervention studies were assessed based on What Works Clearinghouse (WWC, Kratochwill et al., Remedial and Special Education, 34(1), 26–38, 2013) design standards (DSs) including (a) systematic manipulation of independent variables, (b) interrater reliability, (c) three demonstrations of the intervention effect, and (d) adequate number of data points collected for each condition. Forty-three studies that met WWC (Kratochwill et al., Remedial and Special Education, 34(1), 26–38, 2013) DSs were analyzed and calculated with baseline-corrected tau (Tarlow, Behavior Modification, 41(4), 427–467, 2017). Furthermore, performance-criteria-based effect size values (PCES; Aydin and Tanious, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2021) were calculated for 27 studies that had mastery criteria. While the overall tau appeared to be large 0.71 (p = 0.072, se = 0.254), the overall effect size for PCES revealed a small effect of 0.73. The comparisons of all sub-categories’ effect sizes of moderator variables were not statistically significant based on Kruskal Wallis or Mann Whitney U tests. Additionally, findings revealed that studies were predominantly implemented by highly trained researchers in segregated one-on-one settings, and did not include adults with ASD nor challenging behavior. Overall, there has been significant growth in ABA-based interventions in Turkey that show promise in improving the lives of individuals with ASD. However, further research and cultural considerations are essential for a comprehensive understanding of their impact in the Turkish context. Findings from two different effect size analyses and recommendations for future studies are discussed.

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3. Tsou Y-T, Kovács LV, Louloumari A, Stockmann L, Blijd-Hoogewys EMA, Koutamanis A, Rieffe C. School-Based Interventions for Increasing Autistic Pupils’ Social Inclusion in Mainstream Schools: A Systematic Review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 45-68.

School-based interventions for socially including autistic pupils in mainstream schools were systematically reviewed. Included interventions targeted at least one level of the school environment: the autistic children, the peers, the staff, and/or the physical environment, and assessed autistic pupils’ quantity and/or quality of social participation as outcome measures. Findings from 56 studies showed increased accessibility of school activities to autistic pupils, but the reciprocity and friendship between the autistic pupils and the peers were not necessarily improved. Moreover, limited interventions were available for modifying the physical environment. A more holistic strategy that moves the focus from individual children’s social skills to the larger context surrounding children, should be considered for a better inclusion of autistic children in school routine.

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4. Volkmar FR, Woodbury-Smith M. Whither Asperger’s Post DSM-5? An Opinion Piece. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 69-75.

Although first described in 1944 (the year the description of infantile autism), Asperger’s syndrome attracted little attention until the publication by Lorna Wing in early 1980. Over time, different views of the definition of Asperger’s syndrome developed. By the time of the Third Edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and the Tenth Edition of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Disease, enough information had accumulated to include the condition within the broader autism category. Asperger’s syndrome remained a focus of research interest and debate until its exclusion in the DSM-5 in 2013. We argue that the decision to remove Asperger’s syndrome 10 years ago as a distinct condition was premature. A discussion of the tensions around defining Asperger’s and concerns now arising due to the lack of this diagnostic category for new cases is provided.

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5. Thiele-Swift HN, Dorstyn D-S. Anxiety Prevalence in Youth with Autism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Methodological and Sample Moderators. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 76-89.

Research on the prevalence of anxiety in children and adolescents with autism remains fragmented due to a reliance on help-seeking populations and differences in anxiety assessment. We present the pooled findings from 15 community studies (N = 4459) sourced from the Embase, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases (1970–2023). Equally high rates of anxiety symptoms and disorders were identified via self-report (33%, CI = 25 to 40%) and diagnostic interview (19%, CI = 7 to 40%). Higher IQ and male gender were identified as significant covariates, although these results may reflect sampling biases. The findings highlight the need for routine screening, with multiple informants, and improved sampling methods. Protocol was registered on Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/7mtca/).

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6. Gibbs V, Gallagher E, Hudson J, Pellicano E. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Interpersonal Violence Reported by Autistic Adults: A Systematic Review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 90-109.

This article provides a systematic review of the prevalence and risk factors associated with interpersonal violence reported by autistic adults. A systematic search of electronic data bases for peer-reviewed journal articles in English was conducted. The search identified 16 studies that addressed rates and/or risk factors for interpersonal violence. There was wide variation in prevalence rates which was attributed to differences in types of violence being investigated, definitions and measures used, age range and gender of participants and time-frame covered. Overall results indicated that rates may be higher than in the general population. Twelve studies reported on possible risk factors with both individual and broader social factors identified. Further research utilising longitudinal design and validated measures is needed.

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7. Quinton AMG, Ali D, Danese A, Happé F, Rumball F. The Assessment and Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Autistic People: A Systematic Review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 110-44.

Adverse life events and mental health conditions are unfortunately common amongst autistic adults and children; this may present a vulnerability to developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This systematic review provides an update of Rumball’s (Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 6, 294–324, 2019) systematic review of PTSD in autistic individuals and identifies 18 new studies published from 2017 to 2022, reflecting increased research interest in PTSD in autistic populations. Included literature suggests that autistic adults and children experience more severe PTSD symptoms compared to their non-autistic peers, with at least comparable rates of occurrence. We provide a comprehensive overview of this emerging field and identify the need for future research to validate PTSD symptom assessment tools and treatment strategies and investigate unique manifestations of trauma-related symptoms in autistic individuals.

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8. Zhang H, Chen C. A Systematic Review: Factors Related to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Minority Parents’ Service Decisions for Their Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 145-62.

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) play a significant role in determining their children’s service choices. Recent studies have identified both explicit and implicit factors that influence their service decisions. However, in these studies, recruitment efforts did not particularly target culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) minority parents. Hence, the purpose of this systematic review was to assess factors related to service choices among CALD minority parents of children with ASD. Guided by the PRISMA protocol, the present study reviewed 31 studies on factors associated with CALD minority parents’ service selection, and 20 factors were identified. This study provides valuable insights into the service choices and obstacles encountered by CALD minority parents who have children diagnosed with ASD. By comprehending these challenges, future researchers might strive toward mitigating discrepancies in the availability of resources and assistance for children with ASD and their families from various backgrounds.

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9. Swafford LB, Akers JS, Swensson RM, Carlson J. A Systematic Review of Caregiver-Mediated Interventions for Autistic Adolescents: Implications for Social Validity. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 163-84.

A growing body of evidence has accumulated in support of caregiver-mediated interventions in the service of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. However, few reviews of the literature have been conducted to examine the efficacy of caregiver-mediated behavioral interventions with adolescents (ages 10–18) with ASD and no known reviews of the literature have been conducted to assess the presence and quality of social validity measures in this area of research. The present study sought to review the current existing literature to evaluate the common treatment components, social validity, and overall quality of caregiver-mediated behavioral interventions with adolescents with ASD. Findings indicate a need for evaluation of reliable and valid measures of social validity as well as expanding the use of these measures to include feedback from adolescent clients.

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10. Ekradi S, Shahrbanian S, Todd T, Hassani F. Effects of Physical Activity and Massage Therapy on Sleep Disorders Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 185-201.

Sleep disturbances are common for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can have detrimental effects. Sleep disturbances may negatively impact the general well-being and quality of life of children.

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11. Vagnetti R, Di Nuovo A, Mazza M, Valenti M. Social Robots: A Promising Tool to Support People with Autism. A Systematic Review of Recent Research and Critical Analysis from the Clinical Perspective. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 202-26.

In the past decade, interdisciplinary research has revealed the potential benefits of using social robots in the care of individuals with autism. There is a growing interest in integrating social robots into clinical practice. However, while significant efforts have been made to develop and test the technical aspects, clinical validation and implementation lag behind. This article presents a systematic literature review from a clinical perspective, focusing on articles that demonstrate clinical relevance through experimental studies. These studies are analysed and critically discussed in terms of their integration into healthcare and care practices. The goal is to assist healthcare professionals in identifying opportunities and limitations in their practice and to promote further interdisciplinary cooperation.

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12. Rahim F, Qasim NH, Karlygash T, Khozhamkul F, Dzhusupov K, Tekmanova A, Elmira K. Intranasal Oxytocin for Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 227-47.

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been identified as a potential therapeutic intervention for ASD due to its involvement in social bonding and affiliative behaviors. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of intranasal administration of OXT in preclinical and clinical investigations related to ASD. The random-effects meta-analysis method evaluated the combined effect sizes, heterogeneity, and publication bias. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate potential moderators. We confirmed 54 preclinical, animal model, and clinical trials on 2593 cases with ASD through systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Scopus, and Cochrane library databases from 1980 to 2023. The least-squares mean change of ABC-mSW was significantly lower in the OXT group than in Placebo (SMD, −1.45; 95% CI, −2.24, −0.66; P = 0.0003; I2 = 93%). The analysis showed significantly low OXT plasma concentration after intranasal OXT compared with placebo (SMD, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.48, 1.40; P < 0.0001; I2 = 82%). Our analysis showed only CGI improvement was significantly seen in patients with ASD receiving intranasal OXT compared with placebo (SMD, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.00, 0.14; P = 0.04; I2 = 0%). The meta-analysis suggests that the administration of intranasal OXT may have a positive impact on the behavior of individuals with ASD, particularly in terms of enhancing social and communicative abilities. Nevertheless, turning preclinical research discoveries into clinical applications poses a significant hurdle. Additional research is necessary to ascertain the most effective dose, delivery techniques, and long-term consequences to optimize the treatment efficacy and safety for individuals with ASD. Future research endeavors should aim to investigate the heterogeneity of ASD and the variability in responsiveness to interventions involving intranasal OXT.

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13. Rahim F, Qasim NH, Karlygash T, Khozhamkul F, Dzhusupov K, Tekmanova A, Elmira K. Correction to: Intranasal Oxytocin for Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2026; 13(1): 248-.

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