Telehealth Rapid Intervention for Externalizing Behaviors in ASD

Launched by MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · Sep 15, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study tests a short, telehealth version of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (called Tele-PCIT) for young children who have autism and challenging behaviors. Children aged 2 years to under 7 years (up to 83 months) with an ASD diagnosis and noticeable disruptive behavior will be randomly assigned to either Tele-PCIT (10 sessions over about 12 weeks, delivered by video with the therapist coaching the parent) or to Treatment as Usual (typical community care). Researchers will assess changes in the child’s behavior and in how the parent and child interact before treatment, right after treatment (about 12 weeks), and again around 24 weeks. They will use several well-known scales and observations to measure behavior, compliance, parenting practices, and parent stress.

To be eligible, a child must have ASD confirmed by standard tests, show elevated disruptive behaviors, be 2 to 6 years 11 months old, and have receptive language around the level of 24 months or higher. Families should come from a low-income background (Medicaid) and there should be no severe self-injury or unstable changes in any psychotropic medications. The study is led by the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, funded in part by HRSA, and is currently enrolling by invitation. If eligible, families participate for about 12 weeks, may receive a tablet or headset for telehealth, and complete surveys and some observational assessments; the Tele-PCIT option aims to be convenient by delivering therapy at home while helping researchers learn about treatment satisfaction and any barriers to telehealth.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Be between 2:0 -6:11 years old
• • 2. Have elevated levels of disruptive behavior problems as defined by the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory
• • 3. Have a diagnosis of ASD based on a positive Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2), a semi-structured parent interview, record review, and an ASD DSM-5 criteria checklist.
• • 4. Have a receptive language age equivalent of at least 24 months as defined by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test
• • 5. Are of low SES background defined by having primary Medicaid
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Presence of severe self-injurious behavior
• • 2. Children who are receiving psychotropic medication and are not stable on their current medication regimen. Children receiving psychotropic medications who are on a stable regimen for one month will not be excluded.