Swiss Early Intervention Project in Autism: An Evaluation of Early Intervention Outcome (SwissEIPA)

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of early (before the age of 5 years) and intensive intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Early intensive behavioral intervention; Behavioral: Early intensive eclectic intervention; Other: Treatment as usual

Detailed Description

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of early (before the age of 5 years) and intensive intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The type of intervention proposed in Switzerland differs greatly depending on where people live. Several international studies show positive outcomes in children with Autism after receiving early behavioural intervention.

However, Disability Insurance (DI) in Switzerland does not fully cover these scientifically proven interventions. Since January 2014 they cover 45 000 CHF per child for only two years of early treatment across five centres chosen by the Federal Social Insurance Office. The remaining costs are covered by the parents, foundations or by the cantons. In addition, families benefit from this early intervention only if their child is enrolled in one of the five selected centres.

There are currently various types of support for children with Autism in Switzerland before age five, early intensive behavioural interventions, eclectic early intervention and less intensive interventions with a treatment that is not specific to Autism (about 3 hrs./week), which includes occupational therapy, speech therapy and early curative education. Some children do not receive any treatment.

This research aims to evaluate the efficacy of these interventions (early intensive behavioural/ eclectic/treatment as usual) as has been done previously in international studies. The study also aims to include centres other than those selected by the Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 90

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Zurich, Switzerland, 8032
    • Recruiting
    • University of Zurich, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
    • Contact: Ronnie Gundelfinger, Dr. med.; Phone Number: +41 44 499 26 26; Email: ronnie.gundelfinger@puk.zh.ch
    • Contact: Nadja Studer, lic. phil.; Phone Number: +41 44 499 26 26; Email: nadja.studer@puk.zh.ch
    • Principal Investigator: Ronnie Gundelfinger, dr. med.
  • Basel Stadt
    • Aesch, Basel Stadt, Switzerland, 4147
      • Recruiting
      • Autismuszentrum GSR
      • Contact: Bettina Tillmann, Dr. med.; Phone Number: +41 61 645 88 08; Email: bettina.tillmann@gsr.ch
      • Contact: Peter Weber, Prof Dr med; Phone Number: +41 61 645 88 08; Email: peter.weber@ukbb.ch
  • Vaud
    • Gland, Vaud, Switzerland, 1196
      • Recruiting
      • Association Objectif Vaincre l'Autisme
      • Contact: Charlotte Escané, MSc; Phone Number: +41 22 360 03 49; Email: recherche@ovassocation.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: No older than 5 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Experimental Groups: Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis referred to one of the EIBI or EIEI Service Provider receiving Treatment as of January 2013.

Control Group: Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis receiving Treatment as usual and willing to participate

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• For all groups:
• parents speak English, German or French
• diagnosis of Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified
• 5 years or younger at the start of Intervention
• parents consent
• Experimental Group:
• family was accepted by one of the participating Service Providers

Exclusion Criteria:

• Experimental Group:
• receipt of a second intervention that either interferes with the intensive Intervention or is also intensive (more than 10 hours a week)
• Comparison Group:
• receipt of any Intervention that is more than 10 hours a week

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

3

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Early intensive behavioral intervention; Children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder under the age of 5 years that are receiving early intensive behavioral Intervention at one of the participating centres.	Behavioral: Early intensive behavioral intervention; at least 10 hours a week of early intensive behavioral intervention
Early intensive eclectic intervention; Children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder under the age of 5 years that are receiving early intensive eclectic Intervention at the participating centre.	Behavioral: Early intensive eclectic intervention; at least 10 hours a week of early intensive eclectic intervention
Control group; Children with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder under the age of 5 years that are receiving treatment as usual or no treatment at all.	Other: Treatment as usual; receipt of any Intervention that is less intensive than 10 hours a week

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2)	Measures autism symptom severity	Annually up to 3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Positive Gain Scale	Parent questionnaire	Annually up to 3 years
General Positive Affect Scale	Parent questionnaire	Annually up to 3 years
Questionnaire on Resources and Stress	Parent questionnaire	Annually up to 3 years
Hospital anxiety and Depression scale	Parent questionnaire	Annually up to 3 years
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire	Parent questionnaire to assess siblings' behavior and potential secondary effects of the intensive Intervention delivered	Annually up to 3 years
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales II (VABS)	Parent interview; adaptive behavior	Annually up to 3 years
Snijders-Oomen nicht-verbaler Intelligenztest 2 1/2 - 7 (SON-R)	IQ measure	Annually up to 3 years
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-III (WPPSI-III)	IQ measure	Annually if child is testable up to 3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Zurich
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ronnie Gundelfinger, Dr. med., University of Zurich, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 23, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 24, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): November 27, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 2, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2017
• Last Verified: September 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Early intervention
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: SWEIPA