Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Recreational Activity for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

NCT01655173 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Dnr 52-6104
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 68
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if adults with autism spectrum disorder and with normal intelligence improve from 36 sessions (1 calendar year) of group treatment with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or recreational activity in groups with 6-8 participants.

Conditions

Asperger Syndrome; Autistic Disorder; Atypical Autism

Keywords

Asperger syndrome; Autistic disorder; Adult; Psychotherapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• The Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI, Frisch et al. 1992)

  Changes in the Quality of Life Inventory from baseline.

  Baseline, after 36 sessions (1 calendar year) and at a cumulative follow-up within 5 years after treatment termination

• Sense of Coherence (SoC, Antonovsky 1993)

  Self-rating scale, change from baseline

  At baseline and after 36 sessions (1 calendar year)

• The ten-item Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES, Rosenberg 1962)

  This was used to measure self esteem, change from baseline.

  Before treatment (baseline) and after 36 sessions (1 calendar year)

• The patient versions of the Clinical Global Impression scale - Severity (patient CGI-S)

  Severity of impairment at baseline rated by the patient. Change from baseline.

  Before treatment and after 36 sessions (1 calendar year)

• Clinical Global Impression scale - Improvement (patient CGI-I)

  Patient rating on a seven-step Likert scale

  Before treatment (at baseline) and at a cumulative follow-up within 5 years after treatment termination

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Autism Quotient (AQ, Baron-Cohen et al. 2001)

  At baseline and after 36 sessions (1 calendar year)

• Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS, Kessler et al. 2005)

  At baseline and after 36 sessions (1 calendar year)

• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI, Beck et al. 1996)

  At baseline and after 36 sessions (1 calendar year)

• Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90, Derogatis & Cleary 1977)

  At baseline and after 36 sessions (1 calendar year)

Other Outcomes (1)

• Drop-out

  After 36 sessions (1 calendar year)

Study Arms (2)

Cognitive behaviour therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

36 weekly sessions (1 calendar year) of Cognitive behaviour therapy in a group setting.

Behavioral: Cognitive behaviour therapy

Recreational activity intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

36 sessions (1 calendar year) of a group intervention to enable social interaction and to break social isolation.

Behavioral: Recreational activity intervention

Interventions

Cognitive behaviour therapy BEHAVIORAL

The CBT intervention consisted of five elements: (a) structure, (b) group setting, (c) psycho-education, (d) social training and (e) CBT. The participants were presented with the session plan for the whole year and given a binder in which they kept all materials. In addition, each session followed a strict agenda: (1) introduction and presentation of the agenda of the day, (2) resume of homework assignments from the previous session, (3) psycho-educative lecture and discussions on the session topic, (4) coffee break with buns or sandwiches, and social interaction, (5) relaxation or mindfulness exercise, (6) discussions and exercises on the session topic, (7) distribution of homework and (8) evaluation and end of session.

Cognitive behaviour therapy

Recreational activity intervention BEHAVIORAL

The therapists did not provide any deliberate interventions, such as psychoeducation, social training or CBT. Instead, the intervention relied on structure and group setting only. During the first session the participants were asked to write down group activities they would like to engage in. The therapists created a list of the suggested activities, such as visiting museums, board game playing, cooking, restaurant visits, boating, cinema and taking walks. The participants voted for the activity of the next session.

Recreational activity intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders
• Normal intelligence as assumed by mainstream schooling
• Acceptance of a group setting
• Being able to transport themselves to the clinic (with or without support)

You may not qualify if:

• Current substance abuse
• Current psychosis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karolinska Institutet: lead
• Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Sweden: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Northern Stockholm psychiatry, St. Göran hospital

Stockholm, SE-11281, Sweden

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Hesselmark E, Plenty S, Bejerot S. Group cognitive behavioural therapy and group recreational activity for adults with autism spectrum disorders: a preliminary randomized controlled trial. Autism. 2014 Aug;18(6):672-83. doi: 10.1177/1362361313493681. Epub 2013 Oct 2.

  PMID: 24089423 RESULT

Related Links

• PMID: 24089423

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Asperger Syndrome; Autistic Disorder

Interventions

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Susanne Bejerot, MD, PhD

  Karolinska Institutet

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 25, 2012
• First Posted: August 1, 2012
• Study Start: August 1, 2005
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2011
• Study Completion: September 1, 2011
• Last Updated: October 22, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-10

Locations

SE (1)