Social Motivation Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Improving Peer Initiation

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a social initiation motivation intervention (SIMI) focused on training children with ASD to initiate to peers during structured play activities will result in more frequent initiations to typically developing peers during free play. The SIMI approach under investigation uses behavioral strategies based in Applied Behavior Analysis and Pivotal Response Treatment to motivate children with ASD to initiate to peers. Children with ASD will be randomly assigned to either the SIMI or a waiting list. Treatment will be provided for 8 weeks in the context of a weekly social skills group.

Official Title
-----------------
Social Motivation Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Improving Peer Initiation

Conditions
-----------------
Autism Spectrum Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: Social Initiation Motivation Intervention


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: age 4.0 to 6.11 years; diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder without intellectual disability stable community treatments four weeks before and throughout the trial. Exclusion criteria: diagnosed severe psychiatric or genetic disorder or medical problem; severe disruptive behavior that would interfere with peer interactions

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 4 Years
Maximum Age: 6 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Wait List<br> | |
| Experimental: Social Initiation Motivation Intervention<br> | Behavioral: Social Initiation Motivation Intervention<br>* The SIMI approach under investigation uses behavioral strategies based in Applied Behavior Analysis and Pivotal Response Treatment to motivate children with ASD to initiate to peers. The adult arranges the play environment in order to promote cooperation and facilitates frequent prompting and reinforcement from peers, thereby enhancing the reward value of peer interactions.<br>* Other names: Pivotal Response Treatment;|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Initiation Frequency (observational rating of the frequency of child initiations to peers measured from video recording during free play sessions) | The primary measure is an observational rating of the frequency of child initiations to peers measured from video recording during free play sessions at baseline and post-treatment. | 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Pivotal Response Treatment, Applied Behavior Analysis, Peer Initiation, Social Skills Group