A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparison Between Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and Adult-Driven Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Intervention on Disruptive Behaviors in Public School Children with Autism

Abstract

Children with autism often demonstrate disruptive behaviors during demanding teaching tasks. Language intervention can be particularly difficult as it involves social and communicative areas, which are challenging for this population. The purpose of this study was to compare two intervention conditions, a naturalistic approach, Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) with a structured ABA approach on disruptive behavior during language intervention in the public schools. A Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) design was used with two groups of children, matched according to age, sex and mean length of utterance. The data showed that the children demonstrated significantly lower levels of disruptive behavior during the PRT condition. The results are discussed with respect to antecedent manipulations that may be helpful in reducing disruptive behavior.

Effects of Combining Medication and Pivotal Response Treatment on Aberrant Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is a behavioral intervention that has been effective in improving communication skills, increasing social interactions, and reducing the behavioral problems of children with autism [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. This approach targets pivotal behaviors such as motivation, initiation, response to multiple symptoms, management and empathy [ 15 ].…”

“…Studies have indicated that PRT is more effective than the adult-directed applied behavior analysis (ABA) intervention [ 12 ]. The use of favored stimulus items and activities, rather than artificial stimuli and the presentation of the teaching within the context of natural interactions during the PRT sessions may have created more interest in the teaching sessions, thereby resulting in lower levels of disruptive behavior [ 13 ].…”

Brief Report: Reduced Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors after Pivotal Response Treatment

“…Most studies using PRT have focused on improvement in social communication or cognitive ability. For example, several recent RCTs of PRT have shown significant improvement in language and social functioning (Hardan et al, 2014; Mohammadzaheri, Koegel, Rezaee, & Rafiee, 2014; Mohammadzaheri, Koegel, Rezaei, & Bakhshi, 2015). To date, though, no studies have investigated the effects of PRT on RRB reduction.…”

Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury and Autism: Elucidating Shared Mechanisms

“…The main focus of pivotal therapy is to adjust how parents and children respond to the multiple environmental cues that are part of their everyday lives. Pivotal therapy is practiced when the child is in his or her natural environment rather than a clinical setting offering an advantage over traditional approaches by enhancing motivation [114]. Another frequently used treatment is verbal behavior therapy.…”