Autism Spectrum Disorder
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of training community mental health therapists to deliver a mental health intervention for ASD (AIM HI) and study the process of implementing AIM HI in community mental health programs.
Detailed description
This study is a randomized controlled effectiveness trial of AIM HI (An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD), an intervention designed specifically for implementation in community mental health clinics, to reduce problem behavior among school-age children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although the individual components of AIM HI are well-established evidence-based practice strategies and pilot study data indicate that child behavior problems decrease when their community mental health therapists deliver AIM HI, the effectiveness of the protocol has not been established. Therefore, the primary aims are to test the impact of training community therapists in AIM HI on child and family outcomes and determine how child/ family characteristics and level of therapist fidelity moderate treatment effects. The secondary aim is to collect initial data on implementation outcomes and conduct exploratory analyses to identify barriers and facilitators of AIM HI implementation (e.g., intervention, organization, provider characteristics). This study has the potential to make a significant impact by building local capacity to serve school-age children with ASD in routine service settings, and advancing the science on the effectiveness of packaging evidence-based practices (EBPs) for specific services settings. It will also produce generalizable knowledge about implementation that can be applied for this population/ setting.
Interventions
OTHERAIM HI Training
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
University of California, San Diego
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
5 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
for Therapists 1. Employed as staff or a trainee at participating clinic (publicly-funded mental health program) 2. Employed for at least the next 7 months (i.e., practicum or internship not ending in next 7 months). 3. Has an eligible client on current caseload (see below). Inclusion Criteria for Child/ Parent Participants 1. Child age 5-13 years. 2. Has a current ASD diagnosis on record. 3. Meets criteria for ASD on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) or exhibits other clinical indicators of ASD 4. English or Spanish speaking.
Exclusion criteria
for Child/ Parent Participants 1. Child does not present with challenging behaviors. 2. Child does not meet criteria for ASD on the ADOS or exhibit other clinical indicators of ASD
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change since baseline in child behaviors on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) | Study Enrollment, 6, 12, 18 months post study enrollment |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Change since baseline in child behaviors on the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS) Competing Behavior Scale | Study Enrollment, 6, 12, 18 months post study enrollment |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed