This study is investigating the development of a social skills training program for adults with Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism, ages 18 to 35 years. The Principal Investigator for this study is Dr. Michael Murray, the director of the Autism Studies Division at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The purpose of this study is to adapt a social skills training program to address and enhance the social skills of adults with Asperger's Syndrome and high-functioning autism.
During group study visits, a group of six young adults with Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism will meet weekly for about 90 minutes. The purpose of the group sessions is to work on everyday social skills such as initiating and maintaining conversations, establishing friendships, and dealing with situations such as job interviews and dating. A generalization session will be held every week after the group therapy session with same-age peers who have been screened to participate in the study. The purpose of including peers in the class is to give young adults with Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism a chance to practice the social skills learned in the group study visit with a peer group. Study participants will be paired with a typically developing peer for an outing in the community to a nearby restaurant or shop or an in-class exercise such as a mock job interview.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
199
Sixteen week manual based social skills curriculum targeting social fluency and responsiveness.
The Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Northeast Drive Clinic
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult
The Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult is used to measure levels of social awareness, cognition, communication, motivation, and autistic mannerisms in adults.
Time frame: One week post-intervention
Video recording of Social Interaction
Participants will be filmed in a brief interaction with a typically developing peer which will be coded to obtain social interaction skills and fluency scores.
Time frame: One week post-intervention
Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist
The Achenbach is a 126-item survey that asks about behaviors, problems, and substance use.
Time frame: One week post-intervention
Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA)
The SELSA is a 37-item survey that assesses friendships and other relationships.
Time frame: one week post-intervention
Social Skills Inventory (SSI)
The SSI is a 90-item survey that measures social competence.
Time frame: one week post-intervention
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
The SPIN is a 17-item survey that asks about feelings in social situations.
Time frame: one week post-intervention
Empathy Quotient
The EQ is a 60-item survey that assesses ability to relate to others.
Time frame: one week post-intervention
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Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist - Self Report
A 126-item survey that asks about behaviors, problems, and substance use.
Time frame: one week post-intervention
Social Fluency Assessment
Participants will be filmed in a brief interaction with a typically developing peer. These videos will be analyzed for indicators of social fluency such as eye contact, seconds of silence and number of questions asked.
Time frame: one week post-intervention
Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist
The Achenbach is a 126-item survey that asks about behaviors, problems, and substance use.
Time frame: three months post-intervention
Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA)
The SELSA is a 37-item survey that assesses friendships and other relationships.
Time frame: three months post-intervention
Social Skills Inventory (SSI)
The SSI is a 90-item survey that measures social competence.
Time frame: three months post-intervention
Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
The SPIN is a 17-item survey that asks about feelings in social situations.
Time frame: three months post-intervention
Empathy Quotient
The EQ is a 60-item survey that assesses ability to relate to others.
Time frame: three months post-intervention
Achenbach Adult Behavior Checklist - Self Report
A 126-item survey that asks about behaviors, problems, and substance use.
Time frame: three months post-intervention
Social Fluency Assessment
Participants will be filmed in a brief interaction with a typically developing peer. These videos will be analyzed for indicators of social fluency such as eye contact, seconds of silence and number of questions asked.
Time frame: three months post-intervention
Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult
The Social Responsiveness Scale - Adult is used to measure levels of social awareness, cognition, communication, motivation, and autistic mannerisms in adults.
Time frame: three months post-intervention