An analysis of treatment efficacy for stereotyped and repetitive behaviors in autism

Stereotyped, repetitive, ritualistic, obsessive, and

compulsive behaviors are a common feature for many individuals

with autism, and multiple topographies of such behavior

exist. Previous reviews have discussed treatments for

stereotypy and repetitive behaviors; however, to date, none

have systematically evaluated the efficacy of such treatments.

An abundance of treatments based on the principles of applied

behavior analysis exist within the literature; however, many

assume that stereotypy is maintained by automatic reinforcement.

The current review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of

treatments for stereotypy across disciplines including behavioral,

pharmacological, and sensory-based therapies. Furthermore,

this review compares the efficacy of function-based and

nonfunction-based treatments for stereotypy.