SynthesisJournal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN
Therapeutic effects of antidepressants for global improvement and subdomain symptoms of autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Open access · diamondAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph
Synthesis in Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Depression in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Neurobiological Convergence and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.Biology · 2026Review
- Utilization of psychotropic medications in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.BMC psychiatry · 2025Article
- Review of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Epidemiology, Aetiology, Pathology, and Pharmacological Treatment.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Examination of Psychotropic Medication Use Following Outpatient Behavioral Assessment and Treatment.Brain sciences · 2025Article
- Progress towards understanding risk factor mechanisms in the development of autism spectrum disorders.Biochemical Society transactions · 2024Review
- Finding the Proportion of Females with Autistic Spectrum Disorder Who Develop Anorexia Nervosa, the True Prevalence of Female ASD and Its Clinical Significance.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.
Shun-Chin Liang *From the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh).
Cheuk-Kwan Sun *From the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh).
Hsin-Yi FanFrom the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh).
Weilun ChungFrom the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh).
Ruu-Fen TzangFrom the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh).
Kuo-Chuan HungFrom the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh).
Hsien-Jane ChiuFrom the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh).
Yu-Shian Cheng *From the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh) n043283@gmail.com PsyYPY@asia.edu.tw.
Pin-Yang Yeh *From the Department of Management Centre, Jianan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry Of Health and Welfare, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Centre for General Education, University of Kun Shan, Tainan, Taiwan (Liang); the Department of Emergency Medicine, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Sun); the Department of Psychiatry, Tsyr-Huey Mental Hospital, Kaohsiung Jen-Ai's Home, Taiwan (Fan, Chung, Cheng); the Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan (Tzang); the Department of Anesthesiology, Chi Mei Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan (Hung); the Taoyuan Psychiatric Centre, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei City, Taiwan (Chiu); the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Cheng); the Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh); Clinical Psychology Center, Asia University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan (Yeh) n043283@gmail.com PsyYPY@asia.edu.tw.
Jen-Ai Hospital · TWAsia University · TWChi Mei Medical Center · TWI-Shou University · TWKun Shan University · TWMackay Memorial Hospital · TWNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung University · TW
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNo established pharmacological treatment is available for the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of antidepressants for the core and associated symptoms of ASD.
methodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, ClinicalKey, Cochrane CENTRAL, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov using the keywords "ASD" and "antidepressants." We searched from database inception to June 2021 for randomized controlled trials of antidepressant use in patients with ASD. We calculated pooled effect sizes based on a random-effects model.
resultsAnalysis of 16 studies with 899 participants showed improvements in restricted and repetitive behaviours (effect size = 0.27) and global symptoms (effect size = 1.0) in patients with ASD taking antidepressants versus those taking placebos ( LIMITATIONS: The small effect sizes and variations in treatment response that we found warrant further study.
conclusionOur results supported the effectiveness of antidepressants for global symptoms and symptom subdomains of ASD, with tolerable adverse effects. Low symptom severity and adulthood were associated with better outcomes.
Indexed as
Autism Spectrum DisorderAdolescentAdultAntidepressive AgentsChildHumansSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsAntidepressive AgentsSelective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390
Registered trials
None linked
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.