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Reviewed reference catalogue
Selection is purposive and source-based. No systematic search, risk-of-bias assessment or certainty grading is claimed. Findings are editorial summaries; consult the original methods and population before applying them. Bibliographic titles and identifiers retain their official spelling.
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External evidence • reviewed 2026-10-14
Autism — WHO fact sheet
World Health Organization · 2025 · World Health Organization
An international overview connecting prevalence estimates, individual support needs, accessible services and inclusion. It reports a 2021 global estimate of approximately one autistic person in 127.
Method / population / geography
Institutional evidence overview · Autistic people and families across the lifespan · Global
Limitations
An overview rather than an original study; the global estimate does not describe every country or individual.
The global epidemiology and health burden of the autism spectrum: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Autism Spectrum Collaborators · 2025 · The Lancet Psychiatry / Elsevier
Modelled global prevalence and non-fatal health burden using updated epidemiological inputs. Estimates support service planning while identifying the need for stronger geographic data coverage.
Method / population / geography
Systematic evidence review and Bayesian prevalence modelling · Global population represented in GBD 2021 models · Global
Limitations
Modelled estimates carry uncertainty; sparse regional data and changed estimation methods limit direct comparisons with earlier GBD releases.
Prevalence and Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 and 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 16 Sites, United States, 2022
Kelly A. Shaw and colleagues · 2025 · CDC / MMWR Surveillance Summaries
Records identified autism in 32.2 per 1,000 eight-year-old children across participating communities. Site differences and earlier identification inform local service planning.
Method / population / geography
Active record-based surveillance · Children in 16 ADDM surveillance communities · United States — selected surveillance areas
Limitations
Selected communities are not a nationally representative sample. Identified prevalence is neither global prevalence nor a direct measure of incidence.
Autism intervention meta-analysis of early childhood studies (Project AIM): updated systematic review and secondary analysis
Micheal Sandbank and colleagues · 2023 · BMJ
Synthesises developmental outcomes across non-drug interventions and examines how risk of bias changes estimated effects. Useful for evaluating evidence strength rather than selecting a universal intervention.
Method / population / geography
Systematic review and meta-analysis · Young autistic children in controlled intervention studies · Multiple study settings
Limitations
Effects depend on outcome and bias. A 2026 correction adds supplementary reference details; review it alongside the article.
Strategies in supporting inclusive education for autistic students—A systematic review of qualitative research results
Linda Petersson-Bloom; Mona Holmqvist · 2022 · Autism & Developmental Language Impairments / SAGE
Reviews school and classroom adaptations, highlighting teacher understanding and gaps in student perspectives, sensory adaptations and instructional access. Supports questions for inclusive education planning.
Method / population / geography
Systematic review of qualitative research · Autistic students and school stakeholders · Multiple school contexts
Limitations
Qualitative findings describe experiences and strategies; they do not establish a pooled causal effect for each adaptation.
Prevalence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses in the autism population: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Meng-Chuan Lai and colleagues · 2019 · The Lancet Psychiatry / Elsevier
Examines diagnosed co-occurring mental health conditions and factors associated with variation in prevalence. Highlights the need to distinguish specific diagnoses, populations and ascertainment methods.
Method / population / geography
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies · Autistic people with clinically defined co-occurring diagnoses · Multiple study populations
Limitations
Diagnostic criteria, study settings and age distributions differ; pooled values should not predict an individual’s mental health.
Making the future together: shaping autism research through meaningful participation
Sue Fletcher-Watson and colleagues · 2019 · Autism / SAGE
Develops practical principles for shared research through respect, authentic participation and supportive infrastructure. Emphasises autistic leadership and meaningful involvement in research decisions.
Method / population / geography
Co-produced seminar-series synthesis · Autistic and non-autistic contributors with lived, academic and practice expertise · United Kingdom seminar series
Limitations
A practice framework from a UK seminar series, not experimental evidence that participation produces a specified effect size.
Guidelines for conducting research studies with the autism community
Emma Gowen; Rachel Taylor; Thomas Bleazard; Anat Greenstein; Peter Baimbridge; Daniel Poole · 2019 · Autism Policy & Practice
Community discussions inform recommendations for planning, recruitment, research visits and feedback. The guidance focuses on transparent communication, participant comfort and involvement at the chosen level.
Method / population / geography
Focus groups and interviews informing practical guidance · 22 autistic adults and 8 parents of autistic children · United Kingdom
Limitations
Small UK consultation; children and people unable to contribute through conventional discussion were not directly represented.
The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism
Catherine Lord and colleagues · 2022 · The Lancet / Elsevier
Examines how care and research can better address diverse needs, improve services and connect priorities across life stages. Offers recommendations for research and service-system development.
Method / population / geography
International commission synthesis and recommendations · Autistic individuals and families with varied support needs · International
Limitations
Commission recommendations combine evidence and expert interpretation; they are not a universally binding clinical standard or an intervention trial.
Global prevalence of autism: A systematic review update
Jinan Zeidan and colleagues · 2022 · Autism Research / Wiley
Maps variation in published prevalence estimates and discusses ascertainment, access and geographic representation. Useful for understanding why rates from different populations may not be directly comparable.
Method / population / geography
Systematic prevalence review · Populations in published autism prevalence studies · Multiple world regions
Limitations
Study medians are not modelled population-weighted global estimates. Heterogeneous sampling and methods restrict comparisons.
