NCT05926687

Brief Summary

The overarching goal of the proposed study is to: (a) determine how best to sequence two parent-mediated interventions: a social communication intervention (Project ImPACT, Improving Parents as Communication Teachers) and a disruptive behavior intervention (Parent Training for Disruptive Behavior) and (b) examine moderators and mediators of intervention outcomes.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
184

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_2

Timeline
10mo left

Started Jul 2023

Typical duration for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

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

Study Progress78%
Jul 2023Feb 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 7, 2023

Completed
26 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 3, 2023

Completed
8 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 11, 2023

Completed
3.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 28, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 28, 2027

Last Updated

January 29, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3.6 years

First QC Date

June 7, 2023

Last Update Submit

January 27, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

interventionearly interventiontoddlersautisticautismvirtualtele-health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

  • Observed Child Social Communication

    The child's observed social communication is measured from a caregiver-child interaction in which the dyad interacts across a variety of daily activities using materials in their home. This interaction will be recorded and coded for the child's social communication using the codebook from the Early Communication Indicator assessment.

    Between 25-30 weeks

  • Observed Child Disruptive Behavior

    The child's disruptive behavior is measured from a caregiver-child interaction in which the dyad interacts across a variety of daily activities using materials in their home. This interaction will be recorded and coded for the child's disruptive behavior using the Disruptive Behavior Diagnostic Observation (DB-DOS) codebook.

    Between 25-30 weeks

  • Caregiver Report of Child Social Communication

    The caregiver's assessment of the child's social communication is measured from the Developmental Profile 4 (DP-4) Social-Emotional and Communication Scales. This assessment will yield a total raw score ranging from 0 (minimum) to 70 (maximum), with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

    Between 25-30 weeks

  • Caregiver Report of Child Disruptive Behavior

    The caregiver's assessment of the child's disruptive behavior is measured from the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory.

    Between 25-30 weeks

  • Family Life Impairment Scale

    Family life participation outcomes are measured using the Family Life Impairment Scale. The measure's values range from 0 (minimum) to 38 (maximum) with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.

    Between 25-30 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Caregiver Satisfaction

    Between 25-30 weeks

  • Caregiver Perceived Stress

    Between 25-30 weeks

Study Arms (6)

Social Communication + Reduce Frequency

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Starting Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week Secondary Intervention: "Reduce Frequency" of Social Communication Intervention Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Reduce Frequency: 1-hour once/week

Behavioral: Social CommunicationBehavioral: Social Communication + Reduce Frequency

Social Communication + Add Tools

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Starting Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week Secondary Intervention: "Add Tools" to Social Communication Intervention Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week Add: Video feedback

Behavioral: Social CommunicationBehavioral: Social Communication + Add Tools

Social Communication + Switch Intervention to Disruptive Behavior

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Starting Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week Secondary Intervention: Switch to Disruptive Behavior Intervention Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour once/week

Behavioral: Social CommunicationBehavioral: Disruptive Behavior

Disruptive Behavior + Reduce Frequency

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Starting Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour once/week Secondary Intervention: "Reduce Frequency" of Disruptive Behavior Intervention Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Reduce Frequency: 1-hour every other week

Behavioral: Disruptive BehaviorBehavioral: Disruptive Behavior + Reduce Frequency

Disruptive Behavior + Add Tools

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Starting Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour once/week Secondary Intervention: "Add Tools" to Disruptive Behavior Intervention Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist \& Child Frequency: 1-hour once/week Add: Video feedback

Behavioral: Disruptive BehaviorBehavioral: Disruptive Behavior + Add Tools

Disruptive Behavior + Switch Intervention to Social Communication

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Starting Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour once/week Secondary Intervention: "Switch" to Social Communication Intervention Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week

Behavioral: Social CommunicationBehavioral: Disruptive Behavior

Interventions

Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour once/week

Social Communication + Reduce Frequency

Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour once/week

Disruptive Behavior + Add Tools

Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week

Also known as: SC, Project Impact
Disruptive Behavior + Switch Intervention to Social CommunicationSocial Communication + Add ToolsSocial Communication + Reduce FrequencySocial Communication + Switch Intervention to Disruptive Behavior

Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour once/week

Also known as: RUBI, DB
Disruptive Behavior + Add ToolsDisruptive Behavior + Reduce FrequencyDisruptive Behavior + Switch Intervention to Social CommunicationSocial Communication + Switch Intervention to Disruptive Behavior

Intervention: Social Communication Who: Parent \& Child \& Therapist Frequency: 1-hour twice/week

Social Communication + Add Tools

Intervention: Disruptive Behavior Who: Parent \& Therapist only Frequency: 1-hour every other week

Disruptive Behavior + Reduce Frequency

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Months - 48 Months
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • Child is between 18 and 48 months old
  • Child scores above the research cutoff for ASD on the TELE-ASD-PEDS
  • Child has no other known diagnosis or disability at study entry
  • Child has normal vision
  • Child is exposed to English at least 50% of the time
  • Child has a caregiver willing to learn the intervention strategies
  • Caregiver wants help supporting their child's social communication and behavior regulation
  • Caregiver understands conversational English well enough to participate in caregiver instruction

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois, 60208, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Autistic DisorderAutism Spectrum Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Child Development Disorders, PervasiveNeurodevelopmental DisordersMental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
Outcome coders will be blind to experimental condition
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
SEQUENTIAL
Model Details: The investigators propose a sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART) design in which the investigators will initially randomly assign 184 children with ASD, between 18 and 48 months of age, to receive either the SC or DB intervention. Following each respective manualized, 12-week intervention (first-stage intervention; SC or DB), the interventionist will measure the parents' use of intervention strategies. At this point, all parents will be re-randomized before starting the second-stage intervention. Participants will be re-randomized to receive the same intervention at a lower frequency (Reduce) or to receive the other intervention (Switch). Parents who need additional parent instructional method, such as video feedback will be randomized to receive additional tools (Augment).
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 7, 2023

First Posted

July 3, 2023

Study Start

July 11, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 28, 2027

Last Updated

January 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

We will share the final dataset in two ways: the National Database for Autism Research (NDAR) and the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL
Time Frame
Data will be shared once the first published article is available. Data will be available for 10 years.

Locations