Cognitive behavioural therapy and related interventions for sleep disorders in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study protocol outlines a plan to review existing research on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for sleep problems in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More than half of individuals with autism experience sleep difficulties, including trouble falling asleep and waking frequently during the night. These sleep problems can worsen other autism-related challenges and reduce quality of life. CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps people change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep. Early research suggests CBT might help improve sleep in autistic individuals, but no comprehensive review has been done yet.

The researchers plan to search medical databases for all published studies through May 2025 that tested CBT for sleep problems in children and adults with autism. They will include various types of studies and look at outcomes like total sleep time and how long it takes to fall asleep. They will then combine the results using statistical methods to determine whether CBT is truly effective for this population.

This research is important because it will provide clearer guidance about whether CBT can help manage sleep problems in autism. However, this article describes only the research plan—the actual results are not yet available. It's worth noting that this protocol does not involve acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine approaches to sleep disturbances in autism. For those interested in exploring acupuncture for sleep issues, consult with a qualified, licensed acupuncturist experienced in treating individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions.

This systematic review protocol describes a planned meta-analysis examining the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for sleep disturbances in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sleep problems affect over 50% of autistic individuals, manifesting as prolonged sleep latency and fragmented sleep patterns. The review will search multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science) for studies published through May 2025, including randomized controlled trials, single-arm studies, and observational studies involving children and adults with ASD and moderate sleep problems. Primary outcomes include total sleep time, sleep onset latency, and other validated sleep measures. Risk of bias assessment will employ Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool V.2 and ROBINS-I. Meta-analysis will be conducted using Stata 18 with heterogeneity evaluation via I² statistic and Cochran's Q test. This protocol (CRD42025643701) represents a comprehensive effort to synthesize existing evidence, though actual findings remain pending. No sample size or effect size data are available as this is a protocol publication, not a completed study.