Social Skills Training for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Otero, Tiffany L.; Schatz, Rochelle B.; Merrill, Anna; Bellini, Scott

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.09.002

Cited by 42 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Much of the recent research and clinical interventions have focused on improving the core deficits of ASD due to the pervasive impact these deficits can have on various life domains, which continue from childhood into adulthood [10,64]. Difficulties in social communication, reciprocity, empathy, discriminative responding and interpretation of non-verbal or emotional states can contribute to on-going struggles with unemployment or under-employment, limited community access, and fewer opportunities for friendships and romantic relationships.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Though many interventions to improve symptoms of ASD have focused on children [10][11][12] , there is evidence that these difficulties persist with age [13][14][15][16]. As adults, individuals with autism are faced with an even greater variety of social interactions and complexities, as well as the expectation of greater independence in navigating them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of self-and other-report of symptoms of autism and comorbid psychopathology in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Pearl¹,

Edwards²,

Murray³

2017

Contemp Behav Health Care

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While the presentation of autism-related symptoms is variable across individuals with ASD, there is growing evidence that many of these symptoms may be further complicated or exacerbated by comorbid symptoms of psychopathology. Some individuals with ASD may also have difficulty reflecting and reporting on their own behavioral and emotional symptoms, which can interfere with diagnosis and treatment. The current study compared self-and other-ratings of the behavior of 47 young adults with ASD in the home environment, to identify areas of rater agreement and discrepancy across symptoms of both ASD and general pathology. For ASD symptoms, nominated reporters rated the participant's behavior as significantly more impaired regarding social communication symptoms, but no significant difference was found for restricted and repetitive behavior. For symptoms of psychopathology, only attention problems, depression problems, avoidant personality problems, and total problems were reported by others as significantly higher when compared to self-report. While this provides increased confidence for assessing most comorbid symptoms of psychopathology via one reporter, results suggest obtaining collateral reports for ASD symptoms may be important for comprehensive assessment. The results from this study may inform the future of the clinical field regarding the use of a more efficient assessment of individuals with ASD's behavior and comorbid psychopathology.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of self-and other-report of symptoms of autism and comorbid psychopathology in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Pearl¹,

Edwards²,

Murray³

2017

Contemp Behav Health Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However, despite their widespread use, very little rigorous, well-designed research has been conducted to examine their efficacy (Kasari, Shire, Factor, & McCracken, 2014). Indeed, while there have been more than a dozen systematic reviews of GSSIs conducted in recent years (e.g., Barry et al, 2003; Blacher, Kraemer, & Schalow, 2003; Elder, Caterino, Chao, Shacknai, & De Simone, 2006; Flynn & Healy, 2012; Kaat & Lecavalier, 2014; Kasari & Patterson, 2012; Koenig, De Los Reyes, Cicchetti, Scahill, & Klin, 2009; McMahon, Lerner et al, 2013; Miller, Vernon, Wu, & Russo, 2014; Otero, Schatz, Merrill, & Bellini, 2015; Rao, Beidel, & Murray, 2008; Reichow & Volkmar, 2010; Schreiber, 2011; Spence, 2003; White, Keonig, & Scahill, 2007), there has only been one meta-analysis to evaluate efficacy of GSSIs (Reichow, Steiner, & Volkmar, 2012). This sole meta-analysis – which focused on well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a wait-list control, of which only five were evident at the time – provided initial support for the efficacy of GSSIs for improving social competence for ASD youth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of group social skills interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Gates

Kang

Lerner

2017

Clinical Psychology Review

294

239

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Group-based social skills interventions (GSSIs) are widely used for treating social competence among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but their efficacy is unclear. Previous meta-analysis of the literature on well-designed trials of GSSIs is limited in size and scope, collapsing across highly heterogeneous sources (parents; youths; teachers; observers; behavioral tasks). The current meta-analysis of randomized control trials (RCTs) was conducted to ascertain overall effectiveness of GSSIs and differences by reporting sources. Nineteen RCTs met inclusion criteria. Results show that overall positive aggregate effects were medium (g = 0.51, p < 0.001). Effects were large for self-report (g = 0.92, p < 0.001), medium for task-based measures (g = 0.58, p < 0.001), small for parent- and observer-report (g = 0.47 and 0.40, respectively, p < 0.001), and nonsignificant for teacher-report (p = 0.11). Moderation analyses of self-report revealed the effect was wholly attributable to youth reporting that they learned about skilled social behaviors (social knowledge; g = 1.15, p < 0.01), but not that they enacted them (social performance; g = 0.28, p = 0.31). Social skills interventions presently appear modestly effective for youth with ASD, but may not generalize to school settings or self-reported social behavior.

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“…Behavioural treatment options are limited in their efficacy, and often do not generalize well beyond the specific training paradigm (Otero et al, 2015, Williams White et al, 2007.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct modulation of aberrant brain network connectivity through real-time NeuroFeedback

Ramot

Kimmich

Gonzalez‐Castillo

et al. 2017

Preprint

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The existence of abnormal connectivity patterns between resting state networks in neuropsychiatric disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), has been well established. Traditional treatment methods in ASD are limited, and do not address the aberrant network structure. Using real-time fMRI neurofeedback, we directly trained 3 brain nodes in participants with ASD, in which the aberrant connectivity has been shown to correlate with symptom severity. 17 ASD participants and 10 control participants were scanned over multiple sessions (123 sessions in total). Desired network connectivity patterns were reinforced in realtime, without participants' awareness of the training taking place. This training regimen produced large, significant long-term changes in correlations at the network level, and whole brain analysis revealed that the greatest changes were focused on the areas being trained. These changes were not found in the control group. Moreover, changes in ASD resting state connectivity following the training were correlated to changes in behavior, suggesting that neurofeedback can be used to directly alter complex, clinically relevant network connectivity patterns. Significance StatementMany disorders are characterized by underlying abnormalities in network connectivity. These abnormalities are difficult to address with explicit training procedures (which are unlikely to target the specific abnormalities). Covert neurofeedback however, can directly target these networks, positively reinforcing the desired connections. We have developed a method for reinforcing correlations in real-time, and show that such training is effective, inducing significant, long-lasting changes in connectivity between aberrant networks in Autism SpectrumDisorder. This provides a potential mechanism for modulating aberrant correlation structures in other clinical groups as well.

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Social Skills Training for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Cited by 42 publications

References 56 publications

Comparison of self-and other-report of symptoms of autism and comorbid psychopathology in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Comparison of self-and other-report of symptoms of autism and comorbid psychopathology in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Efficacy of group social skills interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Direct modulation of aberrant brain network connectivity through real-time NeuroFeedback

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