The Multi-Media Social Skills Project for Adults

Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Multi-Media Social Skills Project for Adults: Validation of an Intervention for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02995564
• Other study ID #: 41078EP
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: July 2013
• Est. completion date: April 9, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: March 2019
• Source: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study is investigating the development of a social skills training program for adults with Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism, ages 18 to 35 years. The Principal Investigator for this study is Dr. Michael Murray, the director of the Autism Studies Division at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The purpose of this study is to adapt a social skills training program to address and enhance the social skills of adults with Asperger's Syndrome and high-functioning autism.

Description:

During group study visits, a group of six young adults with Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism will meet weekly for about 90 minutes. The purpose of the group sessions is to work on everyday social skills such as initiating and maintaining conversations, establishing friendships, and dealing with situations such as job interviews and dating.

A generalization session will be held every week after the group therapy session with same-age peers who have been screened to participate in the study. The purpose of including peers in the class is to give young adults with Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism a chance to practice the social skills learned in the group study visit with a peer group. Study participants will be paired with a typically developing peer for an outing in the community to a nearby restaurant or shop or an in-class exercise such as a mock job interview.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 199
• Est. completion date: April 9, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: April 9, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between 18 and 35 years of age

• Must be a Pennsylvania resident

• A primary diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism, as confirmed by the SRS-2

• A verbal IQ of 85 or above on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition

• English as primary language spoken

• Ability to fluently speak in full sentences

Exclusion Criteria:

• A significant language delay

• Difficulty with aggression directed at peers

• A primary thought disorder

• A secondary disorder of anxiety or depression so severe as to prevent the individual's participation in the treatment

• A current high school student at start of intervention

• Low social motivation demonstrated through formalized assessment and/or by responses given to screening interview

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Autistic Disorder
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive

Intervention

Behavioral:
• social skills therapy
Sixteen week manual based social skills curriculum targeting social fluency and responsiveness.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Northeast Drive Clinic	Hershey	Pennsylvania

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center	Pennsylvania Bureau of Autism Services

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult	The Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult is used to measure levels of social awareness, cognition, communication, motivation, and autistic mannerisms in adults.	One week post-intervention
Primary	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
Secondary	Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist	The Achenbach is a 126-item survey that asks about behaviors, problems, and substance use.	One week post-intervention
Secondary	Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA)	The SELSA is a 37-item survey that assesses friendships and other relationships.	one week post-intervention
Secondary	Social Skills Inventory (SSI)	The SSI is a 90-item survey that measures social competence.	one week post-intervention
Secondary	Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)	The SPIN is a 17-item survey that asks about feelings in social situations.	one week post-intervention
Secondary	Empathy Quotient	The EQ is a 60-item survey that assesses ability to relate to others.	one week post-intervention
Secondary	Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist - Self Report	A 126-item survey that asks about behaviors, problems, and substance use.	one week post-intervention
Secondary	Social Fluency Assessment	Participants will be filmed in a brief interaction with a typically developing peer. These videos will be analyzed for indicators of social fluency such as eye contact, seconds of silence and number of questions asked.	one week post-intervention
Secondary	Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist	The Achenbach is a 126-item survey that asks about behaviors, problems, and substance use.	three months post-intervention
Secondary	Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA)	The SELSA is a 37-item survey that assesses friendships and other relationships.	three months post-intervention
Secondary	Social Skills Inventory (SSI)	The SSI is a 90-item survey that measures social competence.	three months post-intervention
Secondary	Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)	The SPIN is a 17-item survey that asks about feelings in social situations.	three months post-intervention
Secondary	Empathy Quotient	The EQ is a 60-item survey that assesses ability to relate to others.	three months post-intervention
Secondary	Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist - Self Report	A 126-item survey that asks about behaviors, problems, and substance use.	three months post-intervention
Secondary	Social Fluency Assessment	Participants will be filmed in a brief interaction with a typically developing peer. These videos will be analyzed for indicators of social fluency such as eye contact, seconds of silence and number of questions asked.	three months post-intervention
Secondary	Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult	The Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult is used to measure levels of social awareness, cognition, communication, motivation, and autistic mannerisms in adults.	three months post-intervention