Table 5.
Subgroup and sensitivity analysis of TMS for ASD stratified by previously defined study characteristics.
| Variables | Subjects (arms) | Proportion (95%CI) | I2 (%) | p-value of overall effect | p-value of subgroup difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. TMS used as a therapeutic intervention | 87 (6) | 0.264 (0.181, 0.368) | 0.00 | <0.001 | 0.855 |
| TMS used as an experimental tool | 65 (5) | 0.278 (0.174, 0.413) | 43.67 | 0.002 | |
| 2. Mean age >18 years old | 74 (5) | 0.300 (0.204, 0.418) | 26.59 | 0.001 | 0.402 |
| Mean age ≤ 18 years old | 78 (6) | 0.236 (0.151, 0.350) | 0.00 | <0.001 | |
| 3. Target DLPFC | 92 (6) | 0.284 (0.200, 0.386) | 0.00 | <0.001 | 0.548 |
| Not target DLPFC | 60 (5) | 0.241 (0.142, 0.379) | 33.75 | 0.001 | |
| 4. MT% ≤ 90% | 115 (8) | 0.286 (0.205, 0.383) | 28.77 | <0.001 | 0.590 |
| MT% >90% | 37 (3) | 0.226 (0.122, 0.380) | 0.00 | 0.001 | |
| 5. Number of stimulation sessions <10 | 60(5) | 0.237(0.104, 0.455) | 52.64 | 0.002 | 0.680 |
| Number of stimulation sessions ≥10 | 92(6) | 0.293(0.207, 0.398) | 0.00 | <0.001 |
TMS, transcranial magnetic stimulation; ASD, autism spectrum disorder; DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; MT, motor threshold.