Parent-led intervention for autistic children with insistence on sameness
Official title: A Pilot Telehealth Parent-Mediated Intervention Targeting Insistence on Sameness for Autistic Children
Run by Stanford University · NCT06472115 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests if a virtual program for parents can help children with autism, aged 6 to 10, reduce their need for things to be the same all the time.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 6 Years to 11 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Stanford University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Stanford, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 5, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | October 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | February 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06472115 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 6 to 10 years diagnosed with ASD who exhibit insistence on sameness behaviors and have English-speaking parents.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with significant hearing, language, or motor impairments, or those undergoing concurrent psychosocial treatments for anxiety or insistence on sameness may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study examines the effectiveness of a virtual parent-mediated intervention aimed at reducing insistence on sameness behaviors in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Caregivers will learn to deliver the adapted Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) intervention through telehealth. The study will assess whether this approach can lead to significant improvements in the children's insistence on sameness behaviors. The intervention is designed for children aged 6 to 10 years who exhibit specific behavioral challenges related to ASD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could provide parents with effective strategies to help their children manage insistence on sameness behaviors, leading to improved daily functioning and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using parent-mediated interventions for autism, suggesting that this approach may be effective, although the specific adaptation for insistence on sameness behaviors is less commonly tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 6:0 to 10:11 years at the time of consent * diagnosed with ASD (based on history, review of available medical records including diagnostic testing completed by psychologist) * IQ \> or = 75 (based on history, review of available medical records) * report three or more family accommodations for insistence on sameness based on screening measures * English-speaking parent and youth able to consistently participate in study procedures Exclusion Criteria: * children with significant hearing, language or motor impairment * unstable behavioral and pharmacological treatments (e.g., anxiety medication) to treat anxiety or IS behaviors prior to two months to the start of the study and no anticipated changes in treatments during the course of the trial * caregivers who have participated in formal SPACE training * concurrent psychosocial treatment for anxiety or Insistence on Sameness * children who have a history of prominent school refusal, self-harm, or suicidal ideation
Where it's running
-
Stanford University
Stanford, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jennifer Phillips, PhD — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Kari Berquist, PhD
- Email: spacestudy@stanford.edu
- Phone: (650) 724-6026
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.