Multicomponent Behavioral Intervention Designed to Increase Functional Independence During Aging in AS

Abstract

Developing and maintaining functional independence in adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) across their lifespan is essential to improving quality of life (QoL) and reducing the estimated lifetime costs for these individuals. Our overall objective is to improve independence and QoL in adults with ASD across the lifespan using a single, personalized, multi-faceted, behavioral intervention - Strengthening Skills - that combines the PEERS social skill training program with cognitive compensation training, mindfulness-based emotional regulation, and support group components for those with ASD and their support companions. Our central hypothesis is that independence and QoL can be elevated and Strengthening Skills participants will gain skills in social communication, have improved cognition and enhanced mood. During Year 1, we developed the Strengthening Skills Curriculum combining existing literature with focused interviews with adults with ASD and their support companions. We developed the website that will accompany the instruction, compiled the weekly plan for the Strengthening Skills program, and assembled the program team. We successfully recruited two cohorts for a pilot prospective, randomized, controlled trial for 42 adults aged 21-70 years diagnosed with ASD who are not intellectually disadvantaged (IQ greater than 70) and their program partners. We completed treatment delivery to treatment groups for cohort 1 and will complete treatment delivery to treatment groups for cohort 2 in May. Treatment delivery to the delayed treatment control group will occur in the fall of Year 3. To address the need for long-term maintenance of the treatment gains, we are incorporating a website with guided user lessons so that participants are habituated to use the website after training is completed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2022
Accession Number
AD1169488

Entities

People

  • Brittany B. Braden
  • Leslie C Baxter
  • Nicole L Matthews

Organizations

  • Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Autism
  • Biomedical Research
  • Clinical Trials
  • Cognition
  • Compensation
  • Contracts
  • Covid-19
  • Curriculum
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Instructions
  • Intervention
  • Maintenance
  • Management Personnel
  • Materials
  • Mental Processes
  • Mindfulness
  • Personnel Management
  • Professional Development
  • Quality Of Life
  • Regulations
  • Spectra
  • Students
  • Training

Readers

  • Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Science in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Care for Military Service Members and Veterans with Limb Loss or Disability.