Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotion Regulation
Conditions
Keywords
Regulating Together
Brief summary
Our long-term goal is to validate Regulating Together (emotion regulation intervention) and improve psychosocial outcomes for youth with autism spectrum disorder and emotion dysregulation.
Detailed description
144 children ages 8-12 years old with autism spectrum disorder will be enrolled in the study and randomized to Regulating Together (RT) or Achieving Independence and Mastery in School (AIMS) groups. Participants will complete assessments at five time points: Screen (T1) Week 0 - where they will complete consent; Baseline (T2); Week 7: Post Active Treatment (includes semi-structured interviews) (T3); Week 16: Post Generalization (T4); Week 29: Final outcome visit (T5). Participants will receive 5 weeks of intervention, twice per week, following the T2 visit.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALRegulating Together (RT)
Regulating Together is an intensive outpatient group treatment targeting emotion dysregulation. It engages both caregivers and children and utilizes evidence-based intervention techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), visuals, reinforcements, and scaffolding, and newer interventions such as mindfulness and acceptance-based therapy.
AIMS is a school-based program developed to help students with social-communication challenges (such as autism spectrum disorder) achieve academic success. It is well-established and has been used with autistic youth, both in schools and in outpatient settings.
Sponsors
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
United States Department of Defense
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) * A Full Scale IQ score of 65 or greater on the Weschler Abbreviated Scale Intelligence (WASI-II) or other previous Weschler IQ test * Concern of emotion dysregulation (ED) as measured by a score of 6 or greater on the Emotion Dysregulation Inventory-Reactivity (EDI-R). * Caregivers and child are fluent in speaking English * Child functional verbal communication, confirmed via appropriateness for an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) Module 3. * Family willing to keep prescribed medication and outside interventions stable * willing to participate in twice weekly 90-minute sessions of either Regulating Together (RT) or Achieving Independence and Mastery in School (AIMS). * The guardian must provide written informed consent on behalf of the participant and the participants ages 11-12 years old must provide written informed assent to participate.
Exclusion criteria
* Initiation of new psychosocial intervention within 30 days prior to randomization/first day of treatment. * any physical aggression toward other children outside the home in the past 2 weeks that resulted in serious injury * Presence of comorbid major neuropsychiatric illness warranting other treatment approaches. * Presence of any major sensory impairment that would limit participating in the material including blindness or uncorrected hearing loss
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Emotion Dysregulation Inventory- Reactivity | Through study completion, about 29 weeks | 13-item parent report measure that captures negative emotional responses and Dysphoria characterized by increased negative affect and lack of motivation. Higher scores mean higher emotional reactivity. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Organizational Skills Scale (COSS) | Through study completion, about 29 weeks | Used to measure outcomes from AIMS intervention. It is a rating scale completed by parents and teachers which yields three factors measuring Organized Actions, Task Planning, and Memory and Materials Management. Higher scores mean higher organizational skills. |
| Daily Phone Diary | Through study completion, about 29 weeks | Phone interview administered by staff that documents Frequency and Intensity of Behavioral and Emotional Outbursts over a 2 day period. |
| Inpatient Hospitalization Rates | during the 6 months prior to enrollment in the study and during the 6 months after completion of the individualized consult | chart review and caregiver report for any psychiatric hospitalizations |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRebecca Shaffer
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Outcome results
None listed