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Wright B, Kingsley E, Cooper C, Biggs K, Bursnall M, Wang HI, Chater T, Coates E, Teare MD, McKendrick K, Gomez de la Cuesta G, Barr A, Solaiman K, Packham A, Marshall D, Varley D, Nekooi R, Parrott S, Ali S, Gilbody S, Le Couteur A. I-SOCIALISE: Results from a cluster randomised controlled trial investigating the social competence and isolation of children with autism taking part in LEGO ® based therapy ('Play Brick Therapy') clubs in school environments. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 27:13623613231159699. [PMID: 36991578 PMCID: PMC10576908 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231159699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autism is characterised by keen interests and differences in social interactions and communication. Activities that help autistic children and young people with social skills are commonly used in UK schools. LEGO® based therapy is a new activity that provides interesting and fun social opportunities for children and young people and involves building LEGO® models together. This study looked at LEGO® based therapy for the social skills of autistic children and young people in schools. It was a randomised controlled trial, meaning each school was randomly chosen (like flipping a coin) to either run LEGO® based therapy groups in school over 12 weeks and have usual support from school or other professionals, or only have usual support from school or other professionals. The effect of the LEGO® based therapy groups was measured by asking children and young people, their parents/guardians, and a teacher at school in both arms of the study to complete some questionnaires. The main objective was to see if the teacher's questionnaire answers about the children and young people's social skills changed between their first and second completions. The social skills of participants in the LEGO® based therapy groups were found to have improved in a small way when compared to usual support only. The study also found that LEGO® based therapy was not very costly for schools to run and parents/guardians and teachers said they thought it was good for their children and young people. We suggest further research into different potential benefits of LEGO® based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ellen Kingsley
- COMIC Research, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Cindy Cooper
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Katie Biggs
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | - Tim Chater
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Amy Barr
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Kiera Solaiman
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Anna Packham
- Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | - Roshanak Nekooi
- COMIC Research, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
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Zakirova-Engstrand R, Roll-Pettersson L, Andersson K, Larsson H, Allodi Westling M, Hirvikoski T. Group Psychoeducational Intervention for Grandparents of Young Children with ASD: An Open Feasibility Study. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:808-824. [PMID: 34247300 PMCID: PMC8272608 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05189-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This initial open feasibility trial reports on feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the manualized, group-based psychoeducational intervention for grandparents of preschool-aged children with ASD provided by the outpatient habilitation services in Stockholm, Sweden. One hundred and twenty non-custodial grandparents participated in a 6-h intervention program. The study demonstrated good feasibility: 114 (95%) grandparents completed both pre- and post-intervention measures and evaluations and reported high intervention acceptability. The results also indicated that grandparents increased their knowledge about ASD from pre-intervention to post-intervention, gained skills about strategies of supporting their grandchildren and adult children, and appreciated the opportunity to meet and share experiences with other grandparents. Follow-up with a randomized controlled trial design is needed to firmly establish efficacy of this intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Helena Larsson
- Habilitation & Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Tatja Hirvikoski
- Habilitation & Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden ,Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden ,Center for Psychiatry Research, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
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Effects of Integrative Autism Therapy on Multiple Physical, Sensory, Cognitive, and Social Integration Domains in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A 4-Week Follow-Up Study. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9121971. [PMID: 36553414 PMCID: PMC9776954 DOI: 10.3390/children9121971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the effects of conventional autism therapy (CAT) and integrative autism therapy (IAT) in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A convenience sample of 24 children with ASD was recruited and underwent either CAT or IAT for 60 min/day, twice a week, for 20 sessions over 10 weeks. Outcome measures included the following: (1) physical domain (pediatric balance scale, PBS), (2) sensory domain (short sensory profile), (3) cognitive domains (functional independence measure, FIM; and childhood autism rating scale), and (4) social integration domain (Canadian occupational performance measure, COPM; short falls efficacy scale; and pediatrics quality of life questionnaire). Two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the intervention-related changes in the four domains across the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test at p < 0.05. ANOVA showed significant interaction effects on the PBS, FIM, and COPM (p < 0.05) variables. Moreover, time main effects (p < 0.05) were observed in all four domain variables, but no group main effect was noted. This study provides promising evidence that IAT is more effective than CAT for managing children and adolescents with ASD.
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Holmberg Bergman T, Renhorn E, Berg B, Lappalainen P, Ghaderi A, Hirvikoski T. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group Intervention for Parents of Children with Disabilities (Navigator ACT): An Open Feasibility Trial. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 53:1834-1849. [PMID: 35239083 PMCID: PMC10123046 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05490-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities report high levels of distress, but systematically evaluated interventions are few. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a novel, manualized Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group intervention (Navigator ACT) in a sample of 94 parents of children with disabilities. Feasibility was measured by treatment completion, credibility, and satisfaction, and preliminary outcomes by using self-rating scales administered at the baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The results imply the intervention is feasible in the context of Swedish outpatient habilitation services. A preliminary analysis of the outcome measures suggests that parents experienced significant improvements in well-being. The results indicate that the treatment is feasible and should be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Holmberg Bergman
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Gävlegatan 22B, 11330, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Habilitation and Health, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - E Renhorn
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Gävlegatan 22B, 11330, Stockholm, Sweden.,Habilitation and Health, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - B Berg
- Habilitation and Health, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P Lappalainen
- Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - A Ghaderi
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 9, 17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T Hirvikoski
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Gävlegatan 22B, 11330, Stockholm, Sweden.,Habilitation and Health, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.,Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm, Sweden
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Berggren S, Fletcher-Watson S, Milenkovic N, Marschik PB, Bölte S, Jonsson U. Emotion recognition training in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review of challenges related to generalizability. Dev Neurorehabil 2018; 21:141-154. [PMID: 28394669 DOI: 10.1080/17518423.2017.1305004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the generalizability of findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating emotion recognition (ER) training for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS We present a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the determinants of external validity in RCTs on ER training. Generalizability of the findings across situations, populations, settings, treatment delivery, and intervention formats was considered. RESULTS We identified 13 eligible studies. Participants were predominantly boys with ASD in the normative IQ range (IQ > 70), with an age span from 4 to 18 years across studies. Interventions and outcome measures were highly variable. Several studies indicated that training may improve ER, but it is still largely unknown to what extent training effects are translated to daily social life. CONCLUSION The generalizability of findings from currently available RCTs remains unclear. This underscores the importance of involving children with ASD and their caregivers in informed treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Berggren
- a Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council , Stockholm , Sweden
| | | | - Nina Milenkovic
- a Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Peter B Marschik
- a Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,d Institute of Physiology, Research Unit iDN (Interdisciplinary Developmental Neuroscience), Medical University of Graz , Graz , Austria
| | - Sven Bölte
- a Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ulf Jonsson
- a Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet (KIND), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.,b Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council , Stockholm , Sweden.,e Department of Neuroscience , Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
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