Strengthening Skills Behavioral Intervention for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Interventions
- Behavioral: PEERS Social Skills ProgramBehavioral: Strengthening Skills Program
- Registration Number
- NCT04802434
- Lead Sponsor
- Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to examine changes in adaptive functioning, quality of life, and prospective memory among adults with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) who complete Strengthening Skills, a multi-faceted, behavioral intervention that combines the PEERS Social Skills program with cognitive compensation training, mindfulness-based emotional regulation, and support group components. Participants and their study partners (e.g., spouse, parent, friend) will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Strengthening Skills, PEERS only, or a delayed treatment control group. The Strengthening Skills group will meet weekly for 3 hours for 16 weeks and will learn strategies for gaining and maintaining independence and emotion regulation. Participants will also learn strategies from the PEERS Social Skills Program. The PEERS only group will meet weekly for 1.5 hours for 16 weeks and will only learn strategies from the PEERS Social Skills Program. The delayed treatment control group will participant in data collection at four time points over a 10-month wait period, after which, they will be enrolled into the Strengthening Skills Program. Behavioral self-report data will be collected and a prospective memory assessment will be conducted before and after participation in the 16-week programs. Behavioral self-report data will also be collected at remote 3- and 6-month follow-up visits.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 42
- Meets criteria for autism or autism spectrum on a gold-standard diagnostic assessment (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2)
- Must have a study partner (e.g., parent, spouse, sibling, friend) willing and able to complete questionnaires at all four time points
- Must be willing to be randomized to a treatment or delayed treatment control group
- Must be able to attend at least 14 of the 16 weekly intervention sessions
- English speaking: Participants must be English-speaking because the screening and behavioral measures are in English (including the intelligence estimate), as well as the intervention content
- Non-verbal participants will be excluded to ensure test compliance and increase sample homogeneity.
- Participants with IQ (intelligence quotient) scores lower than 70 will be excluded because the interventions were developed for individuals without intellectual disability.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description PEERS Social Skills Program PEERS Social Skills Program Adults with ASD and their study partners (i.e., spouse, parent, other family member or friend) will attend weekly 1.5 hour meetings for 16 weeks, during which, behavioral intervention strategies will be used to teach skills for improving social relationships and handling social rejection. Participants will be assigned homework assignments each week to practice skills they are learning in a real-world setting. Strengthening Skills Program PEERS Social Skills Program Adults with ASD and their study partners (i.e., spouse, parent, other family member, or friend) will attend weekly 3 hour meetings for 16 weeks, during which, behavioral intervention strategies will be used to teach cognitive compensation and mindfulness-based emotion regulation skills. Strategies from the PEERS Social Skills Program will also be taught. Participants will be assigned homework assignments each week to practice skills they are learning in a real-world setting. Strengthening Skills Program Strengthening Skills Program Adults with ASD and their study partners (i.e., spouse, parent, other family member, or friend) will attend weekly 3 hour meetings for 16 weeks, during which, behavioral intervention strategies will be used to teach cognitive compensation and mindfulness-based emotion regulation skills. Strategies from the PEERS Social Skills Program will also be taught. Participants will be assigned homework assignments each week to practice skills they are learning in a real-world setting.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Mean Change from Baseline in Adaptive Functioning on the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3) Post-Intervention (16 weeks); 3-month follow-up; 6-month follow-up The ABAS-3 Adult Form is a self and other-report questionnaire designed specifically for adult participants (ages 16 to 89), which yields standard scores (Mean = 100, Standard Deviation = 15) in three adaptive domains (i.e., Conceptual, Social, and Practical) and a General Adaptive Composite (GAC). Scores range from 40 to 120 with higher scores indicating better adaptive functioning.
Mean Change from Baseline in Self-reported Quality of Life on the World Health Organization's Brief Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-BREF) Post-Intervention (16 weeks); 3-month follow-up; 6-month follow-up The WHOQOL-BREF is an abbreviated version of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL-100). 26-item self-report questionnaire that yields an Overall Quality of Life and General Health score and four quality of life domain scores: physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environment. Scores range from 0 to 100 on all domains, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Mean Change from Baseline in Prospective Memory on the Royal Prince Alfred Prospective Memory Test Post-Intervention (16 weeks) 4-item behavioral measure of prospective memory. Each item has a maximum score of three points, with a total possible score of 12 points. Scores range from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating better prospective memory.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Arizona State University
🇺🇸Tempe, Arizona, United States