Relationship Training for Children With Autism and Their Peers

Autism Clinical Trial

Official title:

Peer Related School Interventions in Autism

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00095420
• Other study ID #: U54MH068172
• Secondary ID: U54MH068172DDTR
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 2003
• Est. completion date: June 2008

Study information

• Verified date: February 2022
• Source: University of California, Los Angeles
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will determine whether peer interaction training interventions are effective in enhancing the social relationships of children with autism.

Description:

Children with autism often have poor relationships with other children during their childhood and through their adult lives. A number of peer-related intervention models have been developed, but these models have not been thoroughly reviewed or implemented within the school setting. This study will examine the social inclusion of children with autism, following different peer-related interventions training children with autism and their peers.

Children will be randomly assigned to one of four interventions that comprise all autistic children, all nonautistic children, or a mixed group of both. The first intervention focuses on improving the social skills of autistic children. The second intervention involves educating the peers of autistic children to increase their acceptance of their autistic peers. The third intervention is a combination of the first two interventions. Children assigned to the fourth intervention will receive the usual training offered in their local school districts. Training for each group will be conducted twice a week for 6 weeks.

Characteristics of the autistic child will be assessed through an interview that evaluates intelligence quotient (IQ), language skills, and social interaction. Teachers will be asked to complete a questionnaire describing the autistic child and his or her interaction with peers. The autistic children will complete a friendship survey, clinical global impressions scales, and a battery of neuropsychiatric tests. All assessments will be conducted at study start and again at study completion.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 60
• Est. completion date: June 2008
• Est. primary completion date: June 2008
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 6 Years to 11 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria for Autistic and Nonautistic Participants:

• Autistic OR nonautistic peer of autistic child

• Full inclusion in a classroom with nonautistic children

• Currently in kindergarten or grades 1 through 5

• Intelligence quotient higher than 70

• Expectation to stay in the same school and classroom for the duration of the study

• Able to provide parent consent and child assent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Mental age-equivalent less than 4 years

• Conditions other than autism, or sensory or motor impairments

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism
• Autistic Disorder

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Social skills training targeting children with autism
Sessions will focus on improving the social skills of autistic children. Thirty-minute sessions will be held twice a week for 6 weeks.
• Social skills training of peers without autism
Sessions will involve educating the peers of autistic children to increase their acceptance of their autistic peers. Thirty-minute sessions will be held twice a week for 6 weeks.
• Combination treatment of social skills/education about autism
The combination treatment includes children with and without autism. Sessions will involve social skills training and education about autism to increase acceptance of autistic peers. Training will be conducted twice a week for 6 weeks
• Usual training
Participants will receive the usual training offered in their local school districts.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of California, Los Angeles	Los Angeles	California

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of California, Los Angeles	National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Social network involvement of autistic children		Measured before and after treatment and at 3-month follow-up

External Links

•   Click here for more information about this study and others at the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Autism Research and Treatment Web site.