N/A
N=64
Enhancing Social Competence in Adults With Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04349644 ↗Enrolled (actual)
64
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Mar 2025
Primary outcome: Primary: Change in Incidental Face Memory — 0.6588; -0.1604; 0.469; -0.77 microvolts — p=0.016
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- SENSE Theatre (Behavioral)
- Age
- Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Primary completion
- Mar 2024
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Change in Incidental Face Memory |
0.6588; -0.1604; 0.469; -0.77 | 0.016 sig |
| PRIMARY Change in Contextual Assessment of Social Skills |
4.82; 4.52; 5.43; 5.13; 4.30; 4.26 | 0.932 |
| PRIMARY Change in Social Responsiveness Scale - Self (SRS) |
63.23; 67.50; 62.76; 65.77 | 0.05 |
| PRIMARY Change in Social Responsiveness Scale - Other (SRS) |
65.52; 66.23; 63.95; 64.90 | 0.917 |
| SECONDARY Cambridge Face Memory Test |
47.5; 45.75; 47.68; 49.24 | 0.879 |
| SECONDARY Wechsler Memory Scale Face Memory Delay Test |
8.35; 7.88; 8.35; 8.05 | 0.166 |
| SECONDARY Wechsler Memory Scale Face Memory Test |
8.13; 7.67; 8.17; 8.50 | 0.507 |
| SECONDARY Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS) - Self-Report Global Adaptive Composite |
89.04; 85.83; 88.57; 87.14 | 0.706 |
| SECONDARY Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS) - Other-Report Global Adaptive Composite |
76.61; 79.73; 77.20; 78.90 | 0.475 |
| SECONDARY State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Scale |
39.13; 42.42; 42.43; 48.13; 39.57; 41.00 | 0.525 |
| SECONDARY The Adult Self Report (ASR) |
60.83; 63.39; 53.83; 59.00; 59.86; 62.68 | 0.215 |
| SECONDARY The Adult Behavior Checklist (ABCL) |
61.26; 63.91; 58.13; 60.36; 60.25; 64.00 | 0.716 |
Summary
SENSE Theatre®, combines several well-documented, effective behavioral strategies, such as the inclusion of trained peer models, theatre play techniques involving predictable (i.e., scripted) and flexible (improvised) role-play, and repeated performance of newly learned skills resulting in greater automaticity of behavior. The intervention has the potential to enhance social cognition and behavior in adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Eligibility Criteria
ASD Inclusion Criteria:
- diagnosed with ASD based on DSM-V criteria (APA, 2013), by a psychologist, pediatrician or psychiatrist with expertise in ASD will be enrolled. ASD diagnosis will be corroborated by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) (Lord, 2012).
- Only adults not currently supported by educational opportunities will be enrolled.
- Participants must have a full-scale IQ > or = 70 (WASI; (Wechsler, 2011))
ASD Exclusion Criteria:
- Adults with intellectual impairment (WASI; (Wechsler, 2011) score < 70.
- Participants with current, frequent and uncontrolled aggression toward other persons or property in the past 6 months will be excluded based on phone screening and questions from the Adult Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 2001) (e.g., "Physically attacks people").
- Participants with evidence of suicidality based on care-provider report, self-report, or clinical interview (i.e., endorsement of suicidal ideation in the past month and/or suicidal behavior in the past three months on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (Posner, 2011),
- Previous SENSE Theatre® participants will be excluded.
Care-giver Inclusion Criteria:
- must be at least 18 years of age
- must be a parent, close relative, or spouse of the adult participant with ASD.
- must be able to provide current and historical observations of the functioning of the participant with ASD.
- must live in close proximity to and have frequent contact with the participant with ASD.
Care-giver Exclusion Criteria:
- Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria.
Confederates Inclusion Criteria:
- must be at least 18 years of age
- typically developing individual with no neurodevelopmental disorder.
- must successfully complete training and demonstrate consistent administration of research protocols.
Confederate Exclusion Criteria:
- Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria.
Peers Inclusion Criteria:
- must be at least 18 years of age
- typically developing individual with no neurodevelopmental disorder.
- must have an expressed interest in supporting young adults and adults with developmental disabilities or ASD
- must successfully complete SENSE Theatre® training.
Peers Exclusion Criteria:
- Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04349644). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.