- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT04349644
Enhancing Social Competence in Adults With Autism
March 15, 2024 updated by: Blythe Corbett, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Enhancing Social Competence in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot RCT
SENSE Theatre®, combines several well-documented, effective behavioral strategies, such as the inclusion of trained peer models, theatre play techniques involving predictable (i.e., scripted) and flexible (improvised) role-play, and repeated performance of newly learned skills resulting in greater automaticity of behavior.
The intervention has the potential to enhance social cognition and behavior in adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Study Overview
Status
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by primary impairment in social competence.
Effects of current psychosocial interventions often fail to maintain or generalize and few employ rigorous experimental methods.
Our treatment, SENSE Theatre®, combines several well-documented, effective behavioral strategies, such as the inclusion of trained peer models, theatre play techniques involving predictable (i.e., scripted) and flexible (improvised) role-play, and repeated performance of newly learned skills resulting in greater automaticity of behavior.
Recent findings from a randomized control trial (RCT) show immediate between-group effects and evidence of target engagement on the hypothesized mechanism of action, memory for faces, which was evaluated by neuropsychological and event-related potential (ERP) measures.
Moreover, the RCT demonstrated treatment effects on social communication skills that generalized to home and community settings.
Finally, maintained treatment effects were observed on communication symptoms.
The proposed project will extend these findings and provide a stronger test of efficacy using an RCT of SENSE Theatre with a sample of approximately 40 adult participants with ASD (18 to 35 years) randomized to experimental (EXP; N = 20) and a wait list control group (WLC; N = 20) in two separate cohorts.
The RCT will assess target engagement of memory for faces and functional change in social interaction with peers using examiners blind to study treatment group assignment.
The significance and size of treatment effects on these cognitive and behavioral outcomes will be measured using ANOVA and linear mixed models.
Thus, the overarching aim of the study is to determine whether detected changes in face memory and social interaction are due to the SENSE Theatre® treatment and the extent to which these changes generalize and maintain.
If predicted results occur, it will provide strong empirical support for a community-based treatment that has generalized effects on a set of core deficits that otherwise have life-long consequences for adults with ASD.
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Actual)
73
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Contact
- Name: Blythe A Corbett, Ph.D.
- Phone Number: 615-513-9562
- Email: senselab@vumc.org
Study Locations
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Tennessee
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Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37212
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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Participation Criteria
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
18 years to 35 years (Adult)
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Description
ASD Inclusion Criteria:
- diagnosed with ASD based on DSM-V criteria (APA, 2013), by a psychologist, pediatrician or psychiatrist with expertise in ASD will be enrolled. ASD diagnosis will be corroborated by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) (Lord, 2012).
- Only adults not currently supported by educational opportunities will be enrolled.
- Participants must have a full-scale IQ > or = 70 (WASI; (Wechsler, 2011))
ASD Exclusion Criteria:
- Adults with intellectual impairment (WASI; (Wechsler, 2011) score < 70.
- Participants with current, frequent and uncontrolled aggression toward other persons or property in the past 6 months will be excluded based on phone screening and questions from the Adult Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 2001) (e.g., "Physically attacks people").
- Participants with evidence of suicidality based on care-provider report, self-report, or clinical interview (i.e., endorsement of suicidal ideation in the past month and/or suicidal behavior in the past three months on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (Posner, 2011),
- Previous SENSE Theatre® participants will be excluded.
Care-giver Inclusion Criteria:
- must be at least 18 years of age
- must be a parent, close relative, or spouse of the adult participant with ASD.
- must be able to provide current and historical observations of the functioning of the participant with ASD.
- must live in close proximity to and have frequent contact with the participant with ASD.
Care-giver Exclusion Criteria:
- Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria.
Confederates Inclusion Criteria:
- must be at least 18 years of age
- typically developing individual with no neurodevelopmental disorder.
- must successfully complete training and demonstrate consistent administration of research protocols.
Confederate Exclusion Criteria:
- Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria.
Peers Inclusion Criteria:
- must be at least 18 years of age
- typically developing individual with no neurodevelopmental disorder.
- must have an expressed interest in supporting young adults and adults with developmental disabilities or ASD
- must successfully complete SENSE Theatre® training.
Peers Exclusion Criteria:
- Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria.
Study Plan
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: None (Open Label)
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: SENSE Theatre
A peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention designed to improve social cognition and behavior.
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A peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention that involves 10 sessions of approximately 3 hours each that culminates in a public performance.
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No Intervention: Waitlist Control Group
This group will not receive the intervention during the testing phase of the intervention but will eventually receive the theatre intervention.
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Change in Incidental Face Memory
Time Frame: Pretest to Week 11
|
An event-related Potential Task that presents 51 novel faces and 51 novel houses one of each is randomly selected and presented 50 times (repeated).
We are examining an increase in amplitude of 250-500 ms time window between the repeated and single face presentation.
Positive values indicate better face memory.
|
Pretest to Week 11
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Change in Contextual Assessment of Social Skills
Time Frame: Pretest to Week 11
|
An observational assessment measure of social cognition and communication which includes two 3-minutes conversations with typically developing peers showing interested or bored demeanor.
The behaviors are rated based on raw scores on a likert scale from 1 to 7 with 7 reflecting better ability.
|
Pretest to Week 11
|
Change in Social Responsiveness Scale - Self (SRS)
Time Frame: Pretest to Week 11
|
The SRS is a standardized measure of social competence administered by participants pertaining to behaviors characteristic of adults with ASD.
T-scores range from scores of 38 to 90 with higher scores reflecting greater impairment.
|
Pretest to Week 11
|
Change in Social Responsiveness Scale - Parent (SRS)
Time Frame: Pretest to Week 11
|
The SRS is a standardized measure of social competence administered by care-givers pertaining to behaviors characteristic of adults with ASD.
T-scores range from scores of 38 to 90 with higher scores reflecting greater impairment.
|
Pretest to Week 11
|
Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Cambridge Face Memory Test
Time Frame: Pretest, Week 11, two-month follow-up
|
A standardized measure of face memory with 72 items.
Any increase in the raw score pertaining to the number of faces identified constitutes an increase in face memory.
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Pretest, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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Wechsler Memory Scale Face Memory Delay Test
Time Frame: Pretest, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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A standardized measure of face memory in which the participant is exposed to 24 faces in which they must remember amidst an array of 48 faces presented immediately and after a 30-minute delay.
Any increase in the raw score pertaining to the number of faces identified constitutes an increase in face memory.
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Pretest, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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Wechsler Memory Scale Face Memory Test
Time Frame: Pretest, Week 11, two-month follow-up
|
A standardized measure of face memory in which the participant is exposed to 24 faces in which they must remember amidst an array of 48 faces presented immediately and after a 30-minute delay.
Any increase in the raw score pertaining to the number of faces identified constitutes an increase in face memory.
|
Pretest, Week 11, two-month follow-up
|
Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS) - Self-Report
Time Frame: Pretest, Week 5, Week 11, two-month follow-up
|
The ABAS measures adaptive living skills using a Standardized Scale in which scores from 85 to 115 reflect the broad average range.
Lower scores represent greater impairment.
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Pretest, Week 5, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS) - Parent-Report
Time Frame: Pretest, Week 5, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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The ABAS measures adaptive living skills using a Standardized Scale in which scores from 85 to 115 reflect the broad average range.
Lower scores represent greater impairment.
|
Pretest, Week 5, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Scale
Time Frame: Pretest, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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The STAI is a measure of current (State) and enduring (Trait) anxiety that is completed by the participant.
There are 20 items for each domain on a 4-point scale (1 = Almost Never, 4 = Almost Always) and higher scores reflect greater anxiety.
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Pretest, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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The Adult Self Report (ASR)
Time Frame: Pretest, Week 5, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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The ASR is the self-report of the Achenbach empirically system which covers emotional health.
We will focus on the anxiety and depressive subscales.
T-scores range from 40 to 100 with higher scores representing more impairment.
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Pretest, Week 5, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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The Adult Behavior Checklist (ABCL)
Time Frame: Pretest, Week 5, Week 11, two-month follow-up
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The ABCL is the care-giver-report version of the Achenbach system that covers emotional health.
We will focus on the anxiety and depressive subscales.
T-scores range from 40 to 100 with higher scores representing more impairment.
|
Pretest, Week 5, Week 11, two-month follow-up
|
Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Collaborators
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Blythe A Corbett, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Study record dates
These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
October 21, 2020
Primary Completion (Actual)
March 15, 2024
Study Completion (Estimated)
March 30, 2025
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
April 14, 2020
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
April 14, 2020
First Posted (Actual)
April 16, 2020
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
March 18, 2024
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
March 15, 2024
Last Verified
March 1, 2024
More Information
Terms related to this study
Keywords
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- 192271
- 1R33MH120149-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
NO
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
No
This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.
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