# Comparative efficacy and acceptability of sleep interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study will compare the effectiveness of different sleep interventions for children with autism to help guide treatment decisions.

## Contribution

The study introduces a network meta-analysis to compare multiple types of sleep interventions for children with autism.

## Key findings

- A systematic review and network meta-analysis will evaluate pharmacological, psychological, and physical interventions for sleep problems in children with autism.
- The study will assess sleep onset latency and other sleep variables using standardized measures.

## Abstract

Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently experience sleep problems. Although various pharmacological, behavioral, and physical interventions have demonstrated efficacy in improving sleep among children with ASD, the relative effectiveness of these interventions remains unclear.

We will conduct a systematic literature search to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological (e.g., melatonin), psychological (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy), and physical (e.g., bright light therapy) interventions for sleep problems in children with ASD. We will search PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL, major trial registries, and regulatory agency websites. We will assess the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 (RoB 2.0) tool for primary outcome and the Risk Of Bias due to Missing Evidence in Network meta-analysis (ROB-MEN) tool for the bias due to missing network evidence. A network meta-analysis (NMA) will be performed to compare the included interventions. The primary outcome will be sleep onset latency, while secondary outcomes will include other sleep variables, all-cause dropouts, and sleep disturbances assessed using standardized measures. We will assess confidence in NMA(CINeMA).

Our NMA aims to provide evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of sleep interventions for clinicians, children with ASD, and their caregivers. This information will help guide treatment decisions and improve the quality of life for children with ASD and their families.

PROSPERO CRD42024592795.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13643-026-03143-8.