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The objective of this study is to validate a social skills training program manual for adolescents (ages 13-17) with Asperger's Syndrome or high functioning autism. Approximately 150 adolescents with autism spectrum disorders will participate in this study, in groups consisting of 6 adolescents and 6 peer volunteers. Participants will participate in both group therapy and peer generalization sessions (in the form of a photography class) once a week over the course of twelve weeks. Participants and their parents will complete paper and pencil, online, or phone measures and video-recordings to assess the participant's social skills prior to the intervention, at completion of the intervention and three months later.
This study is a pre-test, post-test single group design with post test measures at one week after completion of intervention and follow-up at three months. Approximately 300 adolescents will participate in this study. The study will be conducted in ten cohorts of 12. Each cohort will have 6 participants and 6 adolescent volunteers (peers). Cohorts will be run in a time sequential manner with up to four cohorts running at a time. Participants and their parents will complete pre-test measures including both paper and pencil, online, or phone measures and a video-recording to assess the participant's social interaction skills and fluency. These adolescents will participate in both group therapy and peer generalization sessions once a week over the course of twelve weeks. Upon completion of the intervention, participants and parents will complete paper and pencil, online, or phone measures and video post-test measures. Participants will be encouraged to participate in a follow-up session where the paper and pencil and video measures will be completed again.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Skills Intervention | Experimental | The intervention is a 12-week social skills training program that will consist of a 90 minute group therapy session followed by a 90 minute peer generalization session (in the form of a photography class with typically developing peers) 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 photography class. During the group therapy session adolescents 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 a typically developing peer for the photography class. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Skills Intervention | Behavioral | Twelve week manual based social skills curriculum targeting social fluency and responsiveness. |
|
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change from Baseline Social Responsiveness Scale Score after Intervention | The Social Responsiveness Scale is a 65 - item survey designed to measure social competence. | 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 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change from Baseline Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) after Intervention | The SDQ is a 25 item survey that asks about positive and negative attributes. | One Week Post-Intervention |
| Change from Baseline Loneliness Scale after Intervention |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Murray, MD | Penn State College of Medicine | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State Hershey Psychiatry Clinic | Hershey | Pennsylvania | 17033 | United States |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D000067877 | Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| D066107 | Social Skills |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D002659 | Child Development Disorders, Pervasive |
| D065886 | Neurodevelopmental Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D012919 | Social Behavior |
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The Loneliness Scale is a 24-item survey that assesses social and emotional loneliness. |
| One Week Post Intervention |
| Change from Baseline Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children after Intervention | The MASC is a 39-item survey that assesses anxiety symptoms in children. | One Week Post-Intervention |
| Change from Baseline Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (parent form)after Intervention | The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire is a 25 item survey that asks about positive and negative attributes. | One Week Post-Intervention |
| Change from Baseline Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 3 month Follow Up | 3 Month Follow Up |
| Change from Baseline Loneliness Scale at 3-month Follow Up | 3 Month Follow Up |
| Change from Baseline Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children at 3 month Follow Up | 3 Month Follow Up |
| Change from Baseline Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (parent form)at 3 Month Follow Up | 3 Month Follow Up |
| D001519 | Behavior |