A Hybrid Effectiveness-implementation Trial of a High School-based Executive Function Treatment for Autistic Youth

Children's National Research Institute178 enrolled

Overview

This study will test the effectiveness of a school-based cognitive behavioral executive function (EF) intervention, Unstuck \& On Target High School (UOT:HS), for transition-age youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). UOT:HS was designed to be embedded in high schools and delivered by school staff to improve generalization of skills, increase access to mental health care, and fill a gap in evidence-based approaches to support postsecondary transition. UOT:HS targets flexibility and planning skills and focuses on key functions needed for adult success across 25, 1-hour lessons. School staff will be trained to deliver UOT:HS, study staff will provide ongoing check-ins, and parents will be offered home extensions for each lesson and two trainings to generalize skills to the home environment. Behavioral and parent-report data will be collected prior to intervention, post-intervention, and at 4-to-6-month follow-up.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

178

Conditions

Executive Dysfunction Autism Spectrum Disorder Adolescent Behavior

Interventions

Unstuck & On Target: High SchoolBEHAVIORAL

Unstuck \& On Target: High School (UOT:HS) is a group-based curriculum for high school students that targets executive function skills using Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) techniques. UOT:HS focuses on key functions needed for adult success, such as: self-advocacy, flexibility, time management, motivation, goal setting, developing plans, monitoring progress. Guided practice begins with concrete interventionist support and moves to interventionist cueing, self-cueing, and finally automatic use of the skills without support. Lessons are delivered by school personnel within the school setting. Home extension activities are provided to parents.

Treatment as UsualOTHER

Participants in schools assigned to the Treatment as Usual (TAU) condition will continue to receive the standard school-based IEP accommodations and school supports that would typically be provided. Data will be collected on the types of supports TAU schools offer, and what supports TAU students receive.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 14 YearsMax age: 22 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Cognitive/Behavioral capacity to benefit and understand Unstuck material as determined by teacher guided by probes related to pragmatic language that align with verbal demands of the curriculum. 2. Evidence of autism supported by at least one of the following: * Eligible and/or receiving school-based services or supports for autism * Prior clinical diagnosis of autism from a qualified health professional (as indicated by parent report) * Demonstrates characteristics of autism consistent with DSM-5, as judged by a clinical autism expert, based on all available information gathered through the screening, consenting, and testing process (including information gathered through the Social Communication Questionnaire via parent/teacher report, and SRS-2,) 3. Capacity to benefit and understand unstuck material as determined by teacher Exclusion Criteria: 1. Students must have a level of proficiency in English to complete questionnaires and study procedures in English. Parents must have a level of proficiency in English or Spanish to complete questionnaires and study procedures in English or Spanish. 2. Student is not able to participate in UOT:HS due to their schedule or ability to benefit from curriculum material as determined by teacher.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Classroom Behavior

Change in Classroom Behavior will serve as the primary outcome at end of intervention. Classroom behavior will be assessed through 15-minute classroom observations conducted by a trained research staff member masked to treatment condition. Observations will occur during the school day in an academic (non-intervention) class. Raters use a standardized form to detect the presence or absence of seven observable behaviors: social appropriateness, on task behavior, initiation, transitions, organization, getting stuck/preservation, expression of overwhelm/negativity.

Time frame: Baseline to End of Intervention (up to end of academic year, approx 9 months)

Adaptive Behavior (at follow-up)

Change in adaptive behavior will serve as the primary outcome at follow-up (e.g., approximately six month after end of intervention). Adaptive behavior will be measured via parent-report on the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3). The ABAS-3 is a well-validated parent report measure that assesses practical, everyday skills needed to effectively and independently take care of oneself and interact with others across the lifespan. Performance is represented as standard scores, with higher scores indicating better adaptive skills.

Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention, Follow-up (approx. 6 months after end of intervention)

Secondary Outcomes

Adaptive Behavior (end of intervention)

Change in adaptive behavior will serve as the secondary outcome at the end of intervention. Adaptive behavior will be measured via parent-report on the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition (ABAS-3). The ABAS-3 is a well-validated parent report measure that assesses practical, everyday skills needed to effectively and independently take care of oneself and interact with others across the lifespan. Performance is represented as standard scores (mean=100; SD=15), with higher scores indicating better adaptive skills.

Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (up to end of academic year, approx 9 months)