Replication of the The Multi-Media Social Skills Project for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders

NCT01836965 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 42565EP
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 155
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to validate a social skills training program manual for adolescents (ages 13-17) with Asperger's Syndrome or high functioning autism. Approximately 150 adolescents with autism spectrum disorders will participate in this study, in groups consisting of 6 adolescents and 6 peer volunteers. Participants will participate in both group therapy and peer generalization sessions (in the form of a photography class) once a week over the course of twelve weeks. Participants and their parents will complete paper and pencil, online, or phone measures and video-recordings to assess the participant's social skills prior to the intervention, at completion of the intervention and three months later.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Keywords

Aspergers; Social Skills; Adolescents; High-functioning Autism

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change from Baseline Social Responsiveness Scale Score after Intervention

  The Social Responsiveness Scale is a 65 - item survey designed to measure social competence.

  One Week Post-Intervention

• Video recording of Social Interaction

  Participants will be filmed in a brief interaction with a typically developing peer which will be coded to obtain social interaction skills and fluency scores.

  One Week Post-Intervention

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Change from Baseline Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) after Intervention

  One Week Post-Intervention

• Change from Baseline Loneliness Scale after Intervention

  One Week Post Intervention

• Change from Baseline Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children after Intervention

  One Week Post-Intervention

• Change from Baseline Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (parent form)after Intervention

  One Week Post-Intervention

• Change from Baseline Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 3 month Follow Up

  3 Month Follow Up

Study Arms (1)

Social Skills Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention is a 12-week social skills training program that will consist of a 90 minute group therapy session followed by a 90 minute peer generalization session (in the form of a photography class with typically developing peers) meeting once per week. Each cohort will consist of 6 adolescents with Aspergers or high-functioning autism, who will be joined by 6 typically-developing peers for the photography class. During the group therapy session adolescents will discuss and watch video clips addressing social skills topics relevant to their age group. They will have a chance to practice these skills when paired with a typically developing peer for the photography class.

Behavioral: Social Skills Intervention

Interventions

Social Skills Intervention BEHAVIORAL

Twelve week manual based social skills curriculum targeting social fluency and responsiveness.

Social Skills Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Between 13 and 17 years of age
• Must be a Pennsylvania resident
• A primary diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism, as confirmed by the Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD; Mayes, 2012)
• English as primary language spoken
• Ability to fluently speak in full sentences
• A verbal IQ of 85 or above on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition(KBIT-2; Kaufman \& Kaufman, 1990)

You may not qualify if:

• A significant language delay
• Difficulty with aggression directed at peers
• A primary thought disorder
• A secondary disorder of anxiety or depression so severe as to prevent the individual's participation in the treatment
• Low social motivation demonstrated through formalized assessment and/or by responses given to screening interviews assessing treatment goals

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

Penn State Hershey Psychiatry Clinic

Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Social Skills

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders; Social Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• Michael Murray, MD

  Penn State College of Medicine

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 28, 2013
• First Posted: April 22, 2013
• Study Start: March 1, 2013
• Primary Completion: April 9, 2018
• Study Completion: April 9, 2018
• Last Updated: March 13, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)