Treatment or interventions for patients with autism, intellectual disabilities, or cognitive impairment with concurrent substance use disorder

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SBU Enquiry Service

Consists of structured literature searches to highlight studies that can address questions received by the SBU Enquiry Service from Swedish healthcare or social service providers. We assess the risk of bias in systematic reviews and when needed also quality and transferability of results in health economic studies. Relevant references are compiled by an SBU staff member, in consultation with an external expert when needed.

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Published: Report no: ut202517 Registration no: SBU 2025/1011

Question

What systematic reviews have been published regarding effective treatments or interventions that can be provided in outpatient care for alcohol or substance use disorder among individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, or cognitive impairment?

PICO

Population: Individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, or cognitive impairment and concurrent substance use disorder
Intervention: Interventions, treatment, or support for harmful alcohol or substance use that can be provided by social services or health care without inpatient or compulsory care
Comparison: None, other active treatment or care as usual
Outcome: Quality of life, well-being, sense of security, or alcohol- or substance use

Method

A systematic literature search was performed using the following databases: Scopus, Medline (Ovid), PsycInfo and Academic Search Premier.
Two authors independently assessed the abstracts of all identified studies.
Risk of bias in relevant systematic reviews was assessed using an assessment tool based on AMSTAR.

Identified literature

In two relevant systematic reviews, the risk of bias was considered to be high, therefore the results of the interventions and treatments are not reported [1, 2].

References

  1. Udeanu A, Garcia-Fernandez G, Krotter A, Garcia-Aller JA, Solis Garcia P, Gomez LE. Substance Use and Problem Gambling Interventions for People With Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2025;69(10):1154-71. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.70007
  2. Vieira M, Yeep BH, Carvalho IP. Treating Substance Abuse in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder—a Systematic Review. Rev J Autism Dev Disord. 2023. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-023-00409-y

Search Strategy

Upplysningstjänsten har gjort sökningar i databaserna Medline (Ovid), Scopus, PsycInfo, och Academic Search Premier

Sökningen har begränsats till systematiska översikter.

Nedan redovisas sökningen som gjorts i de vetenskapliga databaserna.

Medline via OvidSP 14 October 25

Title: Interventions for alcohol or substance abuse in outpatient settings among persons with autism, intellectual or cognititive disabilities
/ = Term from the MeSH controlled vocabulary; .sh = Term from the MeSH controlled vocabulary; exp = Term from MeSH including terms found below this term in the MeSH hierarchy; .ti,ab = Title or abstract; .tw = Title or abstract; .kf = Keywords; .kw = Keywords, exact; .bt = Book title. NLM Bookshelf; .pt = Publication type; .ja = Journal abbreviation; .af = All fields; adjn = Adjacent. Proximity operator retrieving adjacent words, adj3 retrieves records with search terms within two terms from each other; * or $ = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase
Search terms Items found
Population: Cognitive or intellectual disorders
1. TITLE-ABS-KEY ((cognit* or development* or intellectual* or neurocognit* or neurodevelopmental) W/3 (deficit* or delay* or disab* or disfunction* or disorder* or dysfunction* or impair* or limitation* or retard*)) 599 860
2. TITLE-ABS-KEY (autis* or ASD or PDD or asperger*) 168 972
3. 1 OR 2 717 127
Population: Alcohol or substance-related disorders
4. TITLE-ABS-KEY(( (alcohol* or amphetamine* or cannabis or cocaine or crack or hallucinogen* or hashish or heroin or inhalant* or marihuana or marijuana or narcotic* or phencyclidine or psychedelic* or substance*) W/3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse or "use") ) OR ( (drug or opiate* or opioid*) W/3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse) ) ) 559 070
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis
5. TITLE-ABS-KEY ( ( (systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” or umbrella) W/3 review ) OR "meta analy*" OR metaanaly* ) AND (EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “le”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “ed”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “ch”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “cp”)) 862 726
Combined sets:
6. 3 AND 4 AND 5 1165
Final result
7. 3 AND 4 AND 5 1165
11. *Alcohol-Related Disorders/ 4738
12. *Alcoholism/ 62 018
13. *Binge Drinking/ 2257
14. *Amphetamine-Related Disorders/ 3097
15. *Cocaine-Related Disorders/ 7296
16. *Inhalant Abuse/ 219
17. *Marijuana Abuse/ 5431
18. exp *"Marijuana Use"/ 6343
19. exp *Narcotic-Related Disorders/ 31 547
20. *Phencyclidine Abuse/ 174
21. *Psychoses, Substance-Induced/ 3929
22. *Substance Abuse, Intravenous/ 12 102
23. *Substance Abuse, Oral/ 5
24. exp *Illicit Drugs/ 10 984
25. exp *Synthetic Drugs/ 1625
26. *Hallucinogens/ 7255
27. ((alcohol* or amphetamine* or cannabis or cocaine or crack or hallucinogen* or hashish or heroin or inhalant* or marihuana or marijuana or narcotic* or phencyclidine or psychedelic* or substance*) adj3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse or "use")).ti,ab,kf,bt. 229 319
28. ((drug or opiate* or opioid*) adj3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse)).ti,ab,kf,bt. 81 032
29. alcoholism.ti,ab,kf,bt. 32 335
30. or/10-29 393 059
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis
31. ((Systematic Review/ or Meta-Analysis/ or Cochrane Database Syst Rev.ja. or ((systematic adj4 review) or "meta analys*" or metaanalys*).ti,bt,ab.) not (editorial/ or letter/ or case reports/)) 565 741
Combined sets:
32. 9 AND 30 AND 31 501
33. limit 32 to dt=20200626 - 20251231 273
Final result
34. limit 32 to dt=20200626 - 20251231 273

Scopus via scopus.com 14 October 25

Title: Interventions for alcohol or substance abuse in outpatient settings among persons with autism, intellectual or cognititive disabilities
Search terms Items found
TITLE-ABS-KEY = Title, abstract or keywords (including indexed keywords and author keywords); ALL = All fields; W/n = Within. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; PRE/n = Precedes by. Proximity operator, the first term in the search must precede the second by n words; LIMIT-TO (X) = Includes only results of specified type, e.g., publication type or time range; DOCTYPE = Publication type; “re” = review; “le” = letter; “ed” = editorial; “ch” = book chapter; “cp” = conference proceedings; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase
Population: Cognitive or intellectual disorders
1. TITLE-ABS-KEY ((cognit* or development* or intellectual* or neurocognit* or neurodevelopmental) W/3 (deficit* or delay* or disab* or disfunction* or disorder* or dysfunction* or impair* or limitation* or retard*)) 599 860
2. TITLE-ABS-KEY(autis* or ASD or PDD or asperger*) 168 972
3. 1 OR 2 717 127
Population: Alcohol or substance-related disorders
4. TITLE-ABS-KEY(( (alcohol* or amphetamine* or cannabis or cocaine or crack or hallucinogen* or hashish or heroin or inhalant* or marihuana or marijuana or narcotic* or phencyclidine or psychedelic* or substance*) W/3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse or "use") ) OR ( (drug or opiate* or opioid*) W/3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse) ) ) 559 070
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis
5. TITLE-ABS-KEY ( ( (systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” or umbrella) W/3 review ) OR "meta analy*" OR metaanaly* ) AND (EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “le”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “ed”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “ch”) OR EXCLUDE (DOCTYPE, “cp”)) 862 726
Combined sets:
6. 3 AND 4 AND 5 1165
Final result
7. 3 AND 4 AND 5 1165

PSYCINFO via EBSCO 15 October 25

Title: Interventions for alcohol or substance abuse in outpatient settings among persons with autism, intellectual or cognititive disabilities
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); DE = Exact keyword; TX = All text; MR = Methodology; Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase; XB = Title and Abstract.
Population: Cognitive or intellectual disorders
1. (((MM "Cognitive Impairment") OR (MM "Neurocognitive Disorders")) OR (MM "Intellectual Development Disorder")) OR (MM "Developmental Disabilities") 82 332
2. XB (cognit* or development* or intellectual* or neurocognit* or neurodevelopmental) N3 (deficit* or delay* or disab* or disfunction* or disorder* or dysfunction* or impair* or limitation* or retard*) OR SU (cognit* or development* or intellectual* or neurocognit* or neurodevelopmental) N3 (deficit* or delay* or disab* or disfunction* or disorder* or dysfunction* or impair* or limitation* or retard*) 264 634
3. XB (autis* or ASD or PDD or asperger*) OR SU (autis* or ASD or PDD or asperger*) 79 964
4. 1 OR 2 OR 3 317 610
Population: Alcohol or substance-related disorders
5. ((((((((MM "Substance Use Disorder") OR (DE "Drug Addiction")) OR (MM "Alcohol Abuse" OR MM "Alcoholism" OR MM "Binge Drinking")) OR (MM "Alcohol Use Disorder")) OR (MM "Cannabis Use Disorder")) AND (MM "Drug Abuse" OR MM "Inhalant Abuse" OR MM "Polydrug Abuse" OR MM "Drug Dependency")) OR (MM "Opioid Use Disorder" OR MM "Heroin Addiction" OR MM "Morphine Dependence")) OR (MM "Marijuana Usage")) OR (MM "Glue Sniffing") 11 062
6. XB ( (alcohol* or amphetamine* or cannabis or cocaine or crack or hallucinogen* or hashish or heroin or inhalant* or marihuana or marijuana or narcotic* or phencyclidine or psychedelic* or substance*) N3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse or "use") ) OR XB ( (drug or opiate* or opioid*) adj3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse) ) OR XB alcoholism 189 164
7. SU ( (alcohol* or amphetamine* or cannabis or cocaine or crack or hallucinogen* or hashish or heroin or inhalant* or marihuana or marijuana or narcotic* or phencyclidine or psychedelic* or substance*) N3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse or "use") ) OR SU ( (drug or opiate* or opioid*) adj3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse) ) OR SU alcoholism 183 617
8. 5 OR 6 OR 7 249 302
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis
9. (TI(((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*) OR AB(((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*) OR SU(((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*)) OR (MR "Systematic Review" OR MR "meta analysis") 119 856
Combined sets:
10. 4 AND 8 AND 9 455
11. Limit 10 2020-06-26 to 2025-10-15 198
Final result
12. Limit 10 2020-06-26 to 2025-10-15 198

Academic Search Premier via EBSCO 15 October 25

Title: Interventions for alcohol or substance abuse in outpatient settings among persons with autism, intellectual or cognititive disabilities
Search terms Items found
TI = Title; AB = Abstract; SU = Keyword, exact or part (including all other fields for indexed and author keywords); Nn = Near. Proximity operator retrieving terms within n words from each other; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase
Population: Cognitive or intellectual disorders
1. XB (cognit* or development* or intellectual* or neurocognit* or neurodevelopmental) N3 (deficit* or delay* or disab* or disfunction* or disorder* or dysfunction* or impair* or limitation* or retard*) OR SU (cognit* or development* or intellectual* or neurocognit* or neurodevelopmental) N3 (deficit* or delay* or disab* or disfunction* or disorder* or dysfunction* or impair* or limitation* or retard*) 289 031
2. XB (autis* or ASD or PDD or asperger*) OR SU (autis* or ASD or PDD or asperger*) 88 746
3. 1 OR 2 353 468
Population: Alcohol or substance-related disorders
4. XB ( (alcohol* or amphetamine* or cannabis or cocaine or crack or hallucinogen* or hashish or heroin or inhalant* or marihuana or marijuana or narcotic* or phencyclidine or psychedelic* or substance*) N3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse or "use") ) OR XB ( (drug or opiate* or opioid*) adj3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse) ) OR XB alcoholism 200 099
5. SU ( (alcohol* or amphetamine* or cannabis or cocaine or crack or hallucinogen* or hashish or heroin or inhalant* or marihuana or marijuana or narcotic* or phencyclidine or psychedelic* or substance*) N3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse or "use") ) OR SU ( (drug or opiate* or opioid*) adj3 (abuse or addict* or dependen* or disorder* or misuse) ) OR SU alcoholism 137 431
6. 4 OR 5 246 688
Study types: systematic reviews and meta-analysis
7. (TI(((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*) OR AB(((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*) OR SU(((systematic OR realist OR integrative OR “mixed method*” OR umbrella) N3 review) OR "meta analys*" OR metaanalys*)) 375 433
Combined sets:
8. 3 AND 6 AND 7 457
9. Limit 8 2020-06-26 to 2025-10-15 233
Final result
10. Limit 8 2020-06-26 to 2025-10-15 233
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