Also reported are revised and new recommendations pertinent to the topic developed by the Living Guideline Group following consideration of the reviewed evidence.
Some researchers have targeted gastrointestinal symptomatology as a means of investigating hypothesis about the aetiology of ASD, and as a rationale for employing (unproven) treatments for core symptoms of ASD. These issues are beyond the scope of the current review update. The reader is referred to the New Zealand ASD Guideline for a comprehensive account of evidence and recommendations relating to treatments, including complementary and alternative dietary interventions.
The systematic review was undertaken by INSIGHT Research to support the work of the New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline’s Living Guideline Group. The methodology followed is consistent with that undertaken for previous supplementary reports of the LGG which were developed and conducted by the New Zealand Guideline Group.
Purpose
The New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline (the ASD Guideline) was published in April 2008. As part of their commitment to the implementation of the guideline, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education agreed to establish a Living Guideline process in 2009. This process is where a guideline is regularly updated and refined to reflect new evidence and changing user needs.Updates within the living guideline process are required when the recommendations in the guideline are no longer considered valid in view of research evidence that has emerged since the guideline’s literature searches were conducted. A multidisciplinary team form the Living Guideline Group (LGG) which is responsible for identification of areas for update, consideration of new evidence and reporting on any implications for guideline recommendations.
This supplementary report describes a systematic review which aims to provide an evidence-based summary of research published in or beyond 2004 relating to gastrointestinal problems for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) so as to update the evidence considered in the ASD Guideline. Also reported are revised and new recommendations pertinent to the topic developed by the Living Guideline Group following consideration of the reviewed evidence. The systematic review was undertaken by INSIGHT Research to support the work of the New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline’s Living Guideline Group. The methodology followed is consistent with that undertaken for previous supplementary reports of the LGG which were developed and conducted by the New Zealand Guideline Group.
The systematic review and the entire living guideline process was funded by the Ministry of Health, and sponsored by the Ministry of Education.