Childhood autism and parent-mediated interventions

Autism is characterised by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviours and interests. Parents request strategies to support their child’s development. Parent-mediated interventions are cost-effective approaches in which parents are coached to support their child’s development within the context of everyday life. The evidence for parent-mediated interventions is lacking due to considerable methodological and theoretical inconsistencies. Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT) is currently being examined in a randomised clinical trial in Denmark, as argued in this review.