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Neuroimaging Predictors of Improvement to Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) in Young Children with Autism

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism
Interventions
Behavioral: Pivotal Response Treatment Program (PRT-P)
Registration Number
NCT03583684
Lead Sponsor
Stanford University
Brief Summary

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a very heterogeneous disorder with limited empirically validated behavioral and biological interventions. The goal of this pilot investigation is to apply a biologically-based approach to identify predictors of treatment response in children with ASD who are receiving Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), an evidence-based behavioral intervention. Specifically, the investigators propose to identify neuroimaging biomarkers of treatment response to a PRT program (PRT-P) targeting language deficits in young children with ASD who will be randomized to either PRT-P or to a delayed treatment group (DTG).

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
36
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on clinical interview and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) and confirmed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and/or Brief Observation of Symptoms of Autism (BOSA) and/or Childhood Autism Rating Scale- Second Edition (CARS-2).
  • Outpatients between 2.0 and 4.11 years of age of either gender,
  • Children of all cognitive levels will be included as long as they are able to participate in the testing procedures to the extent that valid standard scores can be obtained
  • Language delay as measured by the Preschool Language Scale, 5th Edition (PLS-5) [at least 1 standard deviation behind for children age 2 and 3 years; and 2 standard deviations behind for children age 4],
  • Stable psychotropic medication(s) or biomedical intervention(s) for at least 1 month prior to baseline measurements with no anticipated changes during study participation,
  • Stable treatment [Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Floortime, or other interventions], speech therapy, and school placement for at least 1 month prior to baseline measurements with no expected changes during study participation,
  • No more than 60 minutes of 1:1 speech therapy per week,
  • The child's exposure to the English language must be sufficient that administration of standardized tests in English is appropriate for measuring progress,
  • The availability of at least one parent who can consistently participate in the training sessions and related activities, and
  • Successful completion of baseline brain scan.
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Current or life-time diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder),
  • Genetic abnormality (e.g., Fragile X)
  • Presence of active medical problem (e.g., unstable seizure disorder),
  • Receiving more than 15 hours of in home 1:1 Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) per week
  • Magnetic Resonance (MR) contraindication (e.g., the presence of ferrous metal), or
  • Previous adequate Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) trial.
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Pivotal Response Treatment Program (PRT-P)Pivotal Response Treatment Program (PRT-P)The Pivotal Response Treatment Program (PRT-P) will consist of 3 parent-only sessions (60-90 min) and 13 family sessions with the parent and child (60-90 min). These 16 sessions are once per week over a 16 week period.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Number of Child Utterances During a Structured Lab Observation (SLO)Baseline, 16 Weeks
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change on MacArthur-Bates Communication Development Inventory (CDI)Baseline, 16 Weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Stanford University

🇺🇸

Stanford, California, United States

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