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.