Regulating Together for Intellectual Disability and Autism: A Group Behavioral Therapy for for Emotion Dysregulation

Adapting a Group Intervention for Emotion Dysregulation in Autism and Intellectual Disability

The goal of this study is to help children with autism and a co-occurring intellectual disability and their families learn practical strategies for managing issues like irritability, aggression, and other challenging behaviors. The main objective of this study is:

To adapt current Regulating Together materials to create an outpatient group program for emotion dysregulation in autism and co-occurring intellectual disability (ASD + ID) that will improve psychosocial outcomes for youth with ASD + ID.

Up to ten children with autism and co-occurring Intellectual Disability (ASD + ID) ages 8 to 12 years and their caregivers will be enrolled in the study. This study is being done to develop and test a behavior therapy to help children with ASD + ID calm their emotions. Participants will complete assessments at five time points:

Screening (T1); Week 0: Baseline visit (T2); Week 5: Post Active Treatment (T3); Week 10: 5 week follow-up (T4); and Week 15: 10 week follow-up (T5). Participants will receive 5 weeks of intervention, twice per week, following the T2 visit.

Child Participant Inclusion Criteria:

• Males, females, or non-binary youth between 8 and 12 years of age
• Confirmed diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Confirmed diagnosis of Intellectual Disability
• Fluent in spoken English.
• Use of flexible phrase speech or greater
• Meeting clinically significant emotion dysregulation criteria
• Willing to participate in twice weekly 90-minute sessions
• Family is willing to keep prescribed psychiatric medication and outside behavioral interventions stable
• Parent, guardian, or legally authorized representative (LAR) must provide written permission on behalf of the participant

Child Participant Exclusion Criteria:

• Initiation of new psychosocial intervention within 30 days prior to first day of treatment
• Presence of physical aggression in the child directed towards a peer outside the home (i.e., non-siblings) that resulted in injury within 30 days prior to screening. Other significant disruptive, aggressive, self-injurious, or sexually inappropriate behavior felt to be dangerous or overly disruptive to the group sessions will be reviewed by the study team on an individual basis.
• Presence of comorbid major neuropsychiatric illness warranting other treatment approaches
• Presence of any major sensory impairment that would limit participating in the material including blindness or uncorrected hearing loss

Caregiver Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Lives and cares for their child with ASD+ID for > 50% of the year
• Fluent in spoken English.
• Willing to participate in twice weekly 90-minute sessions, including one virtual session weekly

Caregiver Exclusion Criteria:

-Presence of any major sensory impairment that would limit participating in the material including blindness or uncorrected hearing loss