Digital Therapeutics Development Rapidly Expanding for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Investigators recently reviewed the current state of research on digital therapeutics (DTx) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), showcasing its rapid growth and the involvement of prominent institutions. The findings were published in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

ASD is a severe neurodevelopmental condition that has become a leading cause of disability in children. DTx refers to evidence-based therapeutic interventions driven by software, aimed at preventing, managing, or treating medical disorders. This study sought to analyze the current research status and trends of global DTx for ASD from 2002 to 2022.

The researchers conducted a comprehensive search of the Web of Science database, specifically looking for articles on DTx for ASD between January 2002 and October 2022. To analyze the collected data, they utilized CiteSpace, a software tool that helps identify patterns and relationships within scientific literature. 

A total of 509 articles were included in the study. The analysis revealed that the United States was the most productive country in terms of research output in this field, with Vanderbilt University being the most prolific institution. The researchers Zachary Warren and Nilanjan Sarkar emerged as the most significant contributors. The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders was identified as the most-cited journal, indicating its prominence in the field.

Notably, the most cited and cocited articles were Brian Scarselati's "Robots for Use in Autism Research" (2012) and Ralph Adolphs' "Abnormal processing of social information from faces in autism" (2001). Emerging trends in DTx research for ASD encompassed the areas of artificial Intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality, and eye tracking, signifying the integration of new technologies in this domain, researchers said.

The number of publications in this field has consistently increased over the years, primarily concentrated in developed countries, researchers concluded. The adoption of innovative technologies has propelled the progress of DTx for ASD, attracting considerable research interest. Researchers recommended fostering more cross-regional and cross-disciplinary collaborations to advance the development and accessibility of DTx. By encouraging collaborations, researchers can collectively contribute to the advancement and availability of DTx, ultimately benefiting individuals with ASD and their families.

Reference:

Wu X, Deng H, Jian S, et al. Global trends and hotspots in the digital therapeutics of autism spectrum disorders: a bibliometric analysis from 2002 to 2022. Front Psychiatry. 2023;14:1126404. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1126404