Pivotal Response Treatment for adolescents with high functioning autism
Pivotal Response Treatment for Adolescents With High Functioning Autism Intervention Study
This study is testing if weekly Pivotal Response Treatment can help improve social skills and behavior in highly verbal adolescents with high-functioning autism.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 76 (estimated) |
| Ages | 11 Years to 14 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Stanford University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Palo Alto, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT05987761 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) in improving behavioral and social functions in highly verbal adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants will undergo weekly PRT sessions for nine weeks, with assessments conducted to measure changes in behavior, social skills, and brain activity. The study focuses on adolescents who are clinically diagnosed with high-functioning autism and have a Full Scale IQ above 80. The research is conducted at Stanford University in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of high-functioning autism, a Full Scale IQ greater than 80, and an interest in improving their social skills.
Not a fit: Patients with significant cognitive impairments, severe autism requiring high support, or those with contraindications for MRI will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly enhance social skills and overall functioning in adolescents with high-functioning autism.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with Pivotal Response Treatment in improving outcomes for children with autism, indicating potential success for this approach in adolescents.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, higher functioning/low support needs * Intelligence Quotient (IQ): Participants with a Full Scale IQ \> 80 on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II) * Right-handed * No metal in their body/unremovable metal on their body (i.e., braces) * First language is English * Must live in the San Francisco Bay Area * Able and willing to receive intervention weekly for 9 weeks * Adolescent is interested in improving their social skills * MRI Compatibility: No major contraindication for MRI. * Diagnosis of ASD using ADOS-2 and ADI-R. * No evidence of a genetic, metabolic, or infectious etiology for their autism. * Primary diagnosis of ASD * No evidence of significant difficulty during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or immediate neonatal period. * Stable treatment (e.g., ABA), speech therapy, school placement, psychotropic medication(s) or biomedical intervention(s) for at least 1 month prior to baseline measurements with no anticipated changes during study participation. * Score of at least 50% or below on at least 4 out of the 9 social target areas in the SLO (administered during pre-measures) * No evidence of significant difficulty during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or immediate neonatal period. Exclusion Criteria: * History of claustrophobia, previous head injury, serious neurological or medical illness, birth weight less than 4 lb. and/or gestational age \< 34 weeks * Left-handed * Braces or any metal in their body
Where this trial is running
Palo Alto, California
- Stanford Research Park — Palo Alto, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Dani A Abrams, Ph.D. — Stanford University
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.