NCT04114942

Brief Summary

The current study proposes to investigate the effectiveness of PEERS© adapted to target postsecondary students with ASD as they prepare for careers (PEERS© for Careers). Building upon the PEERS© evidence base, PEERS© for Careers will target the development of social competence and related skills as they pertain to the work setting in a 20-week didactic course and subsequent 10-week internship. In the first phase of the study, participants will be randomized to be paired with a career coach to support practicing and generalizing the skills learned within the didactics portion of the program or to receive the didactic training without a career coach. In the second phase of the study, participants who were randomized to receive the didactic training with a coach will continue to receive coaching during the following 10-week internship phase. Those who completed the didactic training without a coach will be re-randomized to either a career coach or no coach condition and will complete a 10-week internship as well.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
106

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2020

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 25, 2019

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 3, 2019

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 1, 2020

Completed
2.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 26, 2022

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 28, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

March 8, 2024

Status Verified

March 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

2.4 years

First QC Date

September 25, 2019

Last Update Submit

March 7, 2024

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Keywords

young adultcollegetransitionscareer developmentsocial skills

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Change in Employment-related Social Skills Knowledge as Assessed by Test of Employment Social Skills (TESS)

    The Test of Employment Social Skills (TESS) is a novel, 36-item criterion-referenced measure created to assess young adults' knowledge of the specific social and employment-related skills taught during the intervention. Changes from baseline in TESS scores after 20-week didactic, 10-week internship, and 10-week follow-up will be compared across different interventions.

    baseline (entry), after 20-week didactic (20 weeks after entry), after 10-week internship (30 weeks after entry), at 10-week follow-up (40 weeks after entry)

  • Change in Employment-related Social Skills Knowledge as Assessed by Adapted Contextual Assessment of Social Skills (CASS)

    The Contextual Assessment of Social Skills (CASS) is a role-play assessment of conversational skills for verbally-fluent adolescents and young adults with ASD which is systematically behaviorally coded. The CASS will be adapted for a work-setting scenario. Change from baseline in CASS scores after 20-week didactic, 10-week internship, and 10-week follow-up will be compared across different interventions.

    baseline (entry), after 20-week didactic (20 weeks after entry), after 10-week internship (30 weeks after entry), at 10-week follow-up (40 weeks after entry)

  • Change in Social Skills Knowledge as Assessed by Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2)

    The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2) is a standardized, validated measure of severity of ASD symptoms as they occur in natural settings. Changes from baseline in SRS-2 scores after 20-week didactic, 10-week internship, and 10-week follow-up will be compared across different interventions.

    baseline (entry), after 20-week didactic (20 weeks after entry), after 10-week internship (30 weeks after entry), at 10-week follow-up (40 weeks after entry)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Autism Severity as Assessed by Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II)

    baseline (entry)

Study Arms (3)

Constant Coach

EXPERIMENTAL

Randomized to have coach during didactic training and internship.

Behavioral: Constant Coach

Internship Only Coach

EXPERIMENTAL

Randomized to have coach during internship only.

Behavioral: Internship Only Coach

Never Coach

EXPERIMENTAL

Randomized to never have coach.

Behavioral: Never Coach

Interventions

Never CoachBEHAVIORAL

20 weeks of didactic training and 10 weeks of internship, but no coaching.

Never Coach
Internship Only CoachBEHAVIORAL

20 weeks of didactic training with no coaching and 10 weeks of internship with coaching.

Internship Only Coach
Constant CoachBEHAVIORAL

20 weeks of didactic training and 10 weeks of internship, with coaching throughout.

Constant Coach

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 35 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • graduated from high school (GED or diploma)
  • between the ages of 18-35
  • currently or have history of enrollment in post-secondary education (e.g. junior college, community college, 4-year university)
  • have a pre-existing ASD diagnosis without severe co-morbid mental health disorders that may actively impair their ability to participate in the PEERS© for Careers program (e.g., psychosis)
  • have intellectual functioning at or above the average range (\>85).

You may not qualify if:

  • have not graduated from high school (GED or diploma)
  • are not between the ages of 18-35
  • are not currently of have a history of enrollment in post-secondary education (e.g. junior college, community college, 4-year university)
  • do not have a pre-existing ASD diagnosis, or they have a severe co-morbid mental health disorders that may actively impair their ability to participate in the PEERS© for Careers program (e.g., psychosis)
  • have intellectual functioning below the average range (\<85).

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

UCLA CAN Clinic

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

Location

UCLA PEERS Clinic

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

Location

Related Publications (4)

  • Laugeson EA, Gantman A, Kapp SK, Orenski K, Ellingsen R. A Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Social Skills in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The UCLA PEERS((R)) Program. J Autism Dev Disord. 2015 Dec;45(12):3978-89. doi: 10.1007/s10803-015-2504-8.

    PMID: 26109247BACKGROUND

  • Ohl A, Grice Sheff M, Small S, Nguyen J, Paskor K, Zanjirian A. Predictors of employment status among adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Work. 2017;56(2):345-355. doi: 10.3233/WOR-172492.

    PMID: 28211841BACKGROUND

  • Roux AM, Shattuck PT, Cooper BP, Anderson KA, Wagner M, Narendorf SC. Postsecondary employment experiences among young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013 Sep;52(9):931-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.019. Epub 2013 Jul 31.

    PMID: 23972695BACKGROUND

  • Taylor JL, Seltzer MM. Employment and post-secondary educational activities for young adults with autism spectrum disorders during the transition to adulthood. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 May;41(5):566-74. doi: 10.1007/s10803-010-1070-3.

    PMID: 20640591BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autism Spectrum DisorderSocial Skills

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, PervasiveNeurodevelopmental DisordersMental DisordersSocial BehaviorBehavior

Study Officials

  • Amanda C Gulsrud, PhD

    University of California, Los Angeles

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

  • Elizabeth A Laugeson, PsyD

    University of California, Los Angeles

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Model Details: A sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) will be conducted, with data collected at 4 major time points (baseline, post P1 (20 weeks), post P2 (10 weeks), 10-week follow up). After baseline assessments, participants will be randomized to receive the 20-week didactic training either with the assistance of a career coach or without (Phase 1). In Phase 2, individuals randomized to the coach condition will continue in the internship phase with a coach. Individuals randomized to the no-coach condition will be re-randomized to either receive assistance from a career coach during their 10-week internship or complete the internship alone. A follow-up, 10-weeks post internship, will be conducted to measure maintenance of treatment gains.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 25, 2019

First Posted

October 3, 2019

Study Start

January 1, 2020

Primary Completion

May 26, 2022

Study Completion

October 28, 2022

Last Updated

March 8, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

US(2)