Boosting motivation to do everyday living skills

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Researchers will compare three programs that target different kinds of motivation—one using Motivational Interviewing to build internal reasons, one using behavioral strategies and rewards to build external reasons, and one combining both approaches. Participants are autistic individuals aged 16–25 who choose a daily living skill they want to do more often; sessions are audio- and video-recorded and include input from an important person in the participant's life. Outcomes include changes in self-reported motivation, actual completion of the chosen daily living skill, feelings of empowerment, and whether participant characteristics predict who benefits. The study is conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and compares the three interventions over a defined intervention period.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria for Autistic Teens and Young Adults:

* Age 16-25 years
* Participants reporting an autism diagnosis or Social Communication Disorder diagnosis from a qualified provider (Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Developmental Pediatrician, Neurologist). When possible, diagnosis will be confirmed through the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Electronic Health Record (EHR).
* Must identify an important person who is able to communicate by understanding and speaking full sentences in English
* Ability to communicate by understanding and using full sentences in English
* Informed Consent
* Be willing to have sessions audio- and video-recorded

Exclusion Criteria for Autistic Teens and Young Adults:

* Diagnosis of Intellectual Disability
* Participant is currently considered a suicide risk in the opinion of the Investigator or is currently demonstrating active suicidal or homicidal ideation or self-injurious behavior.
* Current, comorbid psychiatric disorder with sufficiently intense symptoms in the opinion of the Investigator that these symptoms may confound treatment.
* Changes to mental health treatment plan that could alter response to study intervention in the opinion of the Investigator (ex. starting or ending therapy that could influence the daily living skill goal).
* Participation in a prior trial of our intrinsic motivation condition

Inclusion Criteria for Important Person:

* Age 18 years or older
* Must attend at least 15 minutes of each treatment session
* Ability to communicate by understanding and using full sentences in English
* Informed consent
* Be willing to have sessions audio- and video-recorded

Exclusion Criteria for Important Person:

\- Is not willing to support the autistic teen/young adult with their daily living skill goal

Where it's running

• CHOP Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Benjamin E Yerys, PhD — Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
• Study coordinator: Benjamin E Yerys, PhD
• Email: YerysB@chop.edu
• Phone: 267-425-1173

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Clown therapy to help kids with autism sit for dental visits

  This study tests whether clown therapy can help children with autism sit through a dental examination more easily than conventional familiarization methods.

  Recruiting University of Milan · Milan, Milan · NCT07906288

• French Minds: a French, Multimodal Cohort Study of Severe Psychiatric Disorders and Healthy Controls

  This study tests whether people with mood, psychotic, or autism disorders can be grouped into more similar subtypes based on social withdrawal and anhedonia, across ages 15 to 60.

  Recruiting at 10 sites Fondation FondaMental · Besançon and 16 other locations · NCT07881016

• Cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in children with obesity and autism

  This study tests whether cardiorespiratory fitness and handgrip strength differ between children with obesity who have autism and those who do not, and how these fitness measures relate to body size, composition, and cardiometabolic health.

  Recruiting University of Virginia · Charlottesville, Virginia · NCT07804680

• Transitional Intervention for Hyperacusis in Autism

  Aiming to see if a transitional sound-therapy approach can help adults with autism tolerate everyday sounds better and reduce loudness-related distress.

  Recruiting University of Central Florida · Orlando, Florida and 1 other locations · NCT07798297

• Museum visits to support social and emotional well‑being in autistic adults

  This study tests whether visiting the National Taiwan Museum can help improve social participation and well-being for autistic adults aged 18–50.

  Recruiting National Taiwan University Hospital · Taipei · NCT07768332

• Enhanced Music and Natural Visuals for Emotional Health

  This trial tests whether using soundBrilliance software with music and natural visuals helps improve emotional health for people 13 and older.

  Recruiting at 3 sites soundBrilliance LLC · Fort Collins, Colorado and 2 other locations · NCT07676110

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.