Adaptation of the NEAR Cognitive Remediation Method to Child and Adult Autism by Including Social Scenarios and Skills — NEAR-TSA  

Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title: NEAR-TSA : Adaptation of the NEAR (Neuropsychological and Educational Approach of Cognitive Remediation) Cognitive Remediation Method to Child and Adult Autism by Including Social Scenarios and Skills

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

The investigators currently provide the NEAR method (neuropsychological educational approach to cognitive remediation) for people with neurocognitive difficulties, without distinguishing between ASD and schizophrenia.

However, the NEAR method does not address social cognition in the stimulated functions. The aim of this study is to add social scenarios to this neurocognitive method in order to improve not only neurocognitive functions, but also social cognition. Thus, NEAR would be in this adapted form a method that could be completely adapted to autism spectrum disorders in preadolescents and adults.

The study will include participants aged 13-40 years, with a diagnosis of ASD.

The NEAR TSA method will include 32 sessions:

• one session (90-120 min, with one or two breaks) per week for 32 weeks (8 months), for minor participants.

• two sessions (90 minutes each, with no breaks) per week for 16 weeks (4 months), for adult participants.

The method includes 30 minutes of computerized exercises, 15 minutes of discussion on the exercises performed and the strategies applied, and the rest of the time for "bridging groups".

Three evaluation are proposed:

• an initial clinical and functional evaluation (T1), before the beginning of the program,

• a second clinical, functional and neuropsychological evaluation (T2), within one month since the end of the program

• a third clinical, functional and neuropsychologica evaluationl (T3), three months after the end of the program.

Clinical Trial Description

Inclusion age:two samples: 13 to 15 years old and 16 to 40 years old the clinical evaluation (T1,T2, T3) includes: global functional assessment; questionnaires for children and adults including the self esteem questionnaire, quality of life (who_QOL Bref), social responsiveness scale, conversational skills (CCC-2 for children; Pomini Scale for adults), intrinsic motivational scale (Medalia), Satisfaction scale (CSQ8).

The Neuropsychological evaluation (T1, T2, T3) includes: WISC5 (children), WAIS 4 (adults), stroop test, D2-R, Child memory scale or Wechsler Memory scale for adults, Brief, color trail test, verbal fluency.

Near TSA is a group cognitive remediation method, including one weekly session for children or 2 weekly sessions for adults with 30 mn of neuropsychological exercices, 15 mn of discussion about exercices and strategies, and 30 mn of bridging groups including social scritps. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autistic Disorder

• NCT number: NCT05786898
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Centre Hospitalier St Anne
• Contact: Laura Nailler
• Phone: 01.45.65.76.78
• Email: ext.nailler@ghu-paris.fr
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 24, 2023
• Completion date: December 15, 2026