Social Skills Group Training ("KONTAKT") for Children and Adolescent With High-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

Summary

This trial investigates the behavioral effects of manualized social skills training (KONTAKT) in children´s and adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder with psychiatric comorbidity in a RCT, multicenter study. N = 288 are recruited from 10 child and adolescent psychiatric clinics in Stockholm County. The examination of genetic variants as predictors for outcome and a qualitative study of KONTAKT complete the trial.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety
• Depression

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Social skills group training, KONTAKT

KONTAKT is a manual-based social skills group training for children with high functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles and knowledge of social cognition. The group treatment includes exercises in social skills as well as discussions of social cognition, social interaction, self-reflection and description of themselves and others. The children are training to make contact, to understand and follow social rules, to become aware of themselves and others, to perceive verbal and nonverbal signals in a communication, to develop problem solving skills and coping strategies to manage conflict and to enhance their self-confidence. Intervention includes 12 (brief intervention) and 24 (long intervention) sessions. Each group consists of 4-8 children/adolescents ant two group leaders. The treatment are conducted in cooperation with both parents and teachers.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Region Stockholm

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Stiftelsen Sunnerdahls Handikappfond

  collaborator OTHER

• The Swedish Research Council

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• The Pediatric Research Foundation at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Majblomman

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Karolinska Institutet

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sven Bölte, PhD, Professor · Karolinska Institutet, Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

8 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-08-31

Primary Completion

2016-03-31

Completion

2016-03-31

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations