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

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 a website that accompanied the instruction, compiled the weekly plan for the Strengthening Skills program, and assembled the program team. During years 1 and 2, we successfully recruited two cohorts for a pilot prospective, randomized, controlled trial for 42 autistic adults aged 21-70 years who are not intellectually disadvantaged (IQ >70) and their program partners. We completed treatment delivery to treatment groups for cohort 1 in year 2 and completed treatment delivery to treatment groups for cohort 2 in year 3. Treatment delivery to the delayed treatment control group began in year 3 and was completed in March of 2023 (Year 4; No Cost Extension).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2023
Accession Number
AD1206967

Entities

People

  • Brittany B. Braden
  • Holly Orourke
  • Leslie C Baxter
  • Nicole L Matthews
  • Shanna Delaney

Organizations

  • Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acceptability
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Autism
  • Biomedical Research
  • Cognition
  • Compensation
  • Covid-19
  • Curriculum
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diseases
  • Information Systems
  • Intervention
  • Management Personnel
  • Materials
  • Mental Processes
  • Mindfulness
  • Personnel Management
  • Professional Development
  • Quality Of Life
  • Regulations
  • Social Communication
  • Societies
  • Spectra
  • Students
  • Training

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