The Multi-Media Social Skills Project for Adults

NCT02995564 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 41078EP
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 199
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study is investigating the development of a social skills training program for adults with Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism, ages 18 to 35 years. The Principal Investigator for this study is Dr. Michael Murray, the director of the Autism Studies Division at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The purpose of this study is to adapt a social skills training program to address and enhance the social skills of adults with Asperger's Syndrome and high-functioning autism.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Keywords

Social Skills; Asperger's; High-functioning autism; Young adults

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult

  The Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult is used to measure levels of social awareness, cognition, communication, motivation, and autistic mannerisms in adults.

  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 (15)

• Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist

  One week post-intervention

• Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA)

  one week post-intervention

• Social Skills Inventory (SSI)

  one week post-intervention

• Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)

  one week post-intervention

• Empathy Quotient

  one week post-intervention

Study Arms (1)

Social Skills Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention is a 16-week social skills therapy program that will consist of a 90 minute group therapy session followed by a 90 minute peer generalization session 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 peer generalization portion. During the group therapy session young adults 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 typically developing peer volunteers.

Behavioral: social skills therapy

Interventions

social skills therapy BEHAVIORAL

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

Social Skills Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Between 18 and 35 years of age
• Must be a Pennsylvania resident
• A primary diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism, as confirmed by the SRS-2
• A verbal IQ of 85 or above on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition
• English as primary language spoken
• Ability to fluently speak in full sentences

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
• A current high school student at start of intervention
• Low social motivation demonstrated through formalized assessment and/or by responses given to screening interview

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: lead
• Pennsylvania Bureau of Autism Services: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Northeast Drive 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: Director of the Division of Autism Services

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 14, 2016
• First Posted: December 16, 2016
• Study Start: July 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)