An Intervention Targeting Daily Adaptive Skills Through Executive Function Training for Adults With ASD

An Intervention Program Targeting Daily Adaptive Skills Through Executive Function Training for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study

The current study is a single group pilot study of a novel intervention program which targets improvements in executive functions and adaptive skills in transition age young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. The main aim of the study is to test the effectiveness of the intervention using a pretest-posttest comparison. It is hypothesised that there will be an increase in executive functions and adaptive skills after the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autism; High-functioning Autism
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Skills for Adaptive Functioning through Executive training (SAFE; tentative title)

Detailed Description

The participants engaged in a 10-week group-based intervention program which aims to improve daily adaptive skills based on executive functions and help the transition into adulthood in young adults with ASD. Before and after the intervention, the participants and their parents completed questionnaires that measure executive functions and adaptive skills, and the participants additionally completed an assessment of social adaptive skills. The differences between pre- and post-intervention scores of the outcome measures were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to evaluate the effect of the program.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 7
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Korea, Republic of
  • Gyeonggi-do
    • Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of
      • Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• A clinical diagnosis of ASD as measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised
• Full-scale IQ of 70 or above as measured by the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale

Exclusion Criteria:

• Full-scale IQ less than 70
• Uncooperative and lacking motivation to participate in the programme
• Reporting clinically significant behavioural problems, emotion regulation problems, psychotic symptoms, risk of self-harm or harm to others which can affect the participation to the programme, which is screened by the screening assessments and interviews.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: SAFE intervention; The single group received the SAFE intervention for 10 weeks.	Behavioral: Skills for Adaptive Functioning through Executive training (SAFE; tentative title); An intervention program to improve adaptive skills and executive functions in young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder was administered weekly for 10 weeks to the participants. The participants also completed pre-, mid- and post-intervention assessments.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The change in the Korean version of Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (K-BDEFS)	The Korean version of Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale measures executive functions of adults in everyday life. The score range is 89-356. Higher score indicates worse executive functioning.	1 week before the intervention, between 5th and 6th session of the intervention and 1-3 week after the intervention.
The change in the Korean version of Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-II (K-Vineland-II)	The Korean version of Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-II measures adaptive behavior. The scores are converted into a standard score with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Higher score indicates better adaptive functioning.	1 week before the intervention and 1-3 week after the intervention.
The change in the Community Integration Skills Assessment-2 (CISA-2)	The Community Integration Skills Assessment-2 measures adaptive skills necessary for people with developmental disorders to integrate into the community. The scores are converted into a standard score with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Higher score indicates better community integration skills.	1 week before the intervention and 1-3 week after the intervention.
The change in the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI)	The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory assesses cognitive flexibility. The score range is 19-113. Higher score indicates better cognitive flexibility.	1 week before the intervention and 1-3 week after the intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Seoul National University Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Hee Jeong Yoo, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 11, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 11, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): March 11, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 21, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): June 5, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 9, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 7, 2020
• Last Verified: May 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Autism; Intervention; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Executive Function; High-functioning Autism
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive
• Other Study ID Numbers: B-1904/537-302

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