Clinical trial NCT01631851: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Irritability in Adolescents With High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
Official title: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Irritability in Adolescents With High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD
Asperger's Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS)
Keywords: Autism
Irritability
Disruptive Behavior
Aggression
Behavior Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Lead sponsor: Yale University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2012-06-29
Enrollment: 9
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 9
Maximum age (years): 16
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: In addition to the core symptoms, children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit disruptive behavior problems including irritability, tantrums, noncompliance, and aggression. This is a pilot study of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, also known as Anger Control Training, in adolescents with high-functioning ASD. CBT teaches children to recognize antecedents and consequences of problem behavior and to use emotion regulation and problem-solving skills to reduce irritability, aggression and noncompliance. This form of CBT has been well-studied in typically developing children with disruptive behavior and we are investigating if this treatment can be feasible and helpful, with appropriate modifications, for irritability and disruptive behavior in ASD.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, or PDD-NOS
* presence of disruptive behaviors such as irritability and anger outbursts
* IQ above 80
* Unmedicated or on stable medication

Exclusion Criteria:

* medical or psychiatric condition that would require alternative treatment

Primary outcomes:
measure: ABC Irritability Scale
timeFrame: 1 week
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: New Haven
country: United States
facility: Yale Child Study Center
state: Connecticut
Study officials:
affiliation: Yale University, Child Study Center
name: Denis Sukhodolsky, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Sukhodolsky DG, Vitulano LA, Carroll DH, McGuire J, Leckman JF, Scahill L. Randomized trial of anger control training for adolescents with Tourette's syndrome and disruptive behavior. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Apr;48(4):413-421. doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181985050.
citation: Aman MG, McDougle CJ, Scahill L, Handen B, Arnold LE, Johnson C, Stigler KA, Bearss K, Butter E, Swiezy NB, Sukhodolsky DD, Ramadan Y, Pozdol SL, Nikolov R, Lecavalier L, Kohn AE, Koenig K, Hollway JA, Korzekwa P, Gavaletz A, Mulick JA, Hall KL, Dziura J, Ritz L, Trollinger S, Yu S, Vitiello B, Wagner A; Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology Autism Network. Medication and parent training in children with pervasive developmental disorders and serious behavior problems: results from a randomized clinical trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Dec;48(12):1143-54. doi: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181bfd669.